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Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Begin CAA Slate With Blue Hens

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW opens its 38th season of Colonial Athletic Association men's hoops late Wednesday in a major way – with heavy preseason favorite Delaware visiting Trask Coliseum for a 7 p.m. post-Christmas clash.
 
The Seahawks, 6-5, return to the court after extending their winning streak to three games with a 65-58 victory over longtime rival Campbell one week ago at Trask Coliseum. UNCW has not lost since falling to Jacksonville back on Dec. 11 in North Florida.
 
The Blue Hens, 9-4, get back on the court following an eight-day break for the holiday. UD last played on Dec. 21, 2021, in Elmont, N.Y., where the Blue Hens dropped an 83-72 verdict to Iona.
 
Wednesday's matchup will be carried locally on The Breeze 95.9 FM and aired on the CAA's streaming partner, FloHoops.com. Play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro and color analyst Marty Feurer will be on the call.
 
UNCW improved to 4-1 at home this season with the hard-earned decision over the Camels. It was the program's 26th win in 28 tries against CU at Trask Coliseum since the arena opened in November of 1977.
 
"Delaware returns everyone from last year and they're a very talented basketball team," said second-year UNCW Head Coach Takayo Siddle. "They know how to win. It's going to be a challenging game for us. We're more than capable of pulling out a win, but we're going to have to lock in on our game plan on both ends of the floor."
 
The Seahawks are 13-24 lifetime in CAA openers and 7-13 when christening the conference schedule at Trask Coliseum.
 
Senior guard Jaylen Sims tops the Seahawks in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) as the CAA slate begins. The Charlotte product is averaging 31.2 minutes per game and has led the team in scoring a team-best four times in 2021-22.
 
Versatile graduate guard Mike Okauru is chipping in 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists each contest. He's one of two players who has started all 11 contests and leads the team at the charity stripe, connecting on 20-of-24 free throws on the year.
 
The Seahawks have been solid defensively in the last three outings, limiting Mount Olive, High Point and Campbell to 60.7 ppg and 42.5 percent shooting. UNCW has held four opponents under 60 points this season.
 
Delaware was the overwhelming choice to win the CAA regular season juggernaut and the Blue Hens have been on point. Coach Martin Ingelsby's veteran club has won five of its last six contests and rolled up 75.4 ppg in the non-conference slate.
 
UD graduate forward Dylan Painter has been a one-man wrecking crew against the Seahawks in recent games and he's off to an outstanding start again. The 6-10, 235-pounder from Hershey, Pa., has averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 13 contests, shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 81.3 percent at the foul line.
 
Painter has collected 14.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg in four career matchups with the Seahawks. He piled up 38 points (23, 15) and 34 rebounds (19, 15) in last year's two appearances at Trask Coliseum.
 
The Blue Hens added another piece to the puzzle this season in George Washington transfer Jameer Nelson, Jr., who has started all 13 games and averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. He poured in a career-high 29 points and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds in the loss to the Gaels.
 
Following Wednesday's matchup with the Blue Hens, the Seahawks travel to the Northeast to battle Hofstra on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, and Northeastern on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. UNCW's originally scheduled game vs. Drexel on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, was postponed late Monday due to Covid-19 protocols within the Dragon program.
 
UNCW-UD Net Notes
  • The Seahawks stand 16-21 lifetime in CAA home openers since joining the league in 1984-85. UNCW snapped a three-game skid in league home debuts with last season's 77-70 verdict over the Blue Hens at Trask Coliseum.
  • The Seahawks have faced Delaware more than any other former America East member since UD, Hofstra, Towson and Drexel joined the circuit. UNCW holds a 23-18 advantage in the series and owns five CAA Tournament victories (2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2017) over the Blue Hens.
  • UD has had the best of it in recent contests between the two teams, winning seven of the last 10 meetings. The Blue Hens had a streak of six wins in a row intact before the Seahawks turned the tables in last year's opener.
  • The Seahawks are 12-7 against the Blue Hens at Trask Coliseum. The two teams have split the last 10 games on the Carolina coast.
  • UNCW is facing UD skipper Martin Ingelsby for the 12th time and is 4-7 against the former Notre Dame aide.
  • The Seahawks and Blue Hens have had one common opponent. Both squads played Delaware State on the road. UNCW topped the Hornets, 67-63, on Nov. 20, 2021, while UD defeated DSU, 59-48, on Dec. 2, 2021.
  • The Seahawks are playing their final game in December. UNCW went 4-2 in December games last year and stands 137-148 this month since moving up to the NCAA Division I level in 1976-77.
  • The Seahawks concluded their non-conference schedule with a 6-5 record after reeling off three straight wins in the last seven days. Siddle owns a 12-8 record against non-conference opponents over two seasons.
  • Siddle is 7-4 record in December after taking over the program during Covid-19 ridden 2020-21.
 For complete coverage of UNCW Men's Basketball, follow the Seahawks on the official home of UNCW Athletics, UNCWSports.com, or through our social media channels: @UNCWmenshoops (Twitter), facebook.com/UNCWMensBasketball (Facebook), @UNCWBasketball (Instagram).
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

G
6' 6"
Sophomore
Mike Okauru

#4 Mike Okauru

G
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

6' 6"
Sophomore
G
Mike Okauru

#4 Mike Okauru

6' 3"
Junior
G