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Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Host Dukes In Home Finale

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's basketball team concludes a memorable year at Trask Coliseum late Saturday when longtime rival James Madison visits the Port City in the home finale for the Seahawks.
 
The first-place Seahawks (18-8, 12-3 CAA) and Dukes (15-11, 6-9 CAA) battle for the 80th time in a 7 p.m. start at Trask Coliseum. Several interesting storylines surround the Colonial Athletic Association fray.
 
It will be the final home appearance for senior/graduate transfers James Baker, Jr., Jaylen Fornes, Mike Okauru and Jaylen Sims, along with manager Spenser Hargrove. The group will be feted in a special pregame recognition. This year's class has combined for 4,363 points in 530 collegiate games.
 
At halftime, all-time great Devontae Cacok will have his jersey retired in a special ceremony. Cacok appeared in 129 games from 2015-2019, leading the Seahawks to a pair of CAA championships and NCAA berths in 2016 and 2017. The Riverdale, Ga., product scored 1,593 points and grabbed 1,263 rebounds over four seasons with the club. He was a three-time All-CAA selection and the 2017 CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
 
In addition, former Seahawk standout Mark Byington will be making his first appearance at his old stomping grounds following an outstanding four-year career with the Seahawks from 1994-98. The Salem, Va., native scored 1,088 points in 114 games for the Seahawks and played on the school's first postseason club (NIT) in 1998.
 
James Madison visits Trask Coliseum for the final time as a member of the CAA. The Dukes are shifting to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022-23.
 
Saturday's finale will be carried locally on The Breeze 95.9 FM and aired on the CAA's streaming partner, FloHoops.com, with play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro and color analyst Marty Feurer on the call.
 
In the last matchup between UNCW and JMU, Sims drained a three-pointer as time expired to give the Seahawks their seventh consecutive victory, 71-70, over a stunned JMU squad at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Va. Five players reached double figures for the Seahawks, led by 16 points apiece from Fornes and freshman guard Trazarien White. Junior guard Shykeim Phillips contributed 14, Sims had 11 and Okauru pitched in 10.
 
The second half was full of runs by each team and JMU appeared to have the upper hand with a 65-58 lead after JMU's Vado Morse dropped in a pair of free throws with 2:59 remaining. But in the waning seconds, Phillips drove to the left side, slipped, and fell to the AUBC floor. A timeout was called and UNCW Head Coach Takayo Siddle and his staff drew up the decisive play for Sims, who coolly knocked down the buzzer beater, setting off a wild celebration by the Seahawks at mid-court.
 
Saturday's matchup features two of the CAA's top-3 scorers. Morse ranks second (15.8 ppg) and Sims is tied for third (15.5 ppg) in scoring.
 
Since reeling off 12 consecutive wins from Dec. 15, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, the Seahawks have split their last six outings. Siddle's club stands 3-3 in the month of February following a perfect 8-0 mark in the first month of the year.
 
The Seahawks hit the road for the last time in the regular season next week when the team meets Drexel in Philadelphia on Thursday (Feb. 24) before wrapping up the campaign at Delaware in Newark, Del. on Saturday (Feb. 26).
 
UNCW-JMU Net Notes
 
UNCW owns a 42-37 edge in the series vs. JMU. UNCW won the inaugural game on Dec. 16, 1979, and captured 14 straight from Jan. 20, 2001, through Jan. 10, 2008.
 
The Seahawks have won six of the last 10 pairings between the two clubs. JMU, however, has taken the last two meetings in Trask Coliseum.
 
The Seahawks are 22-13 against the Dukes in Wilmington. UNCW and JMU have split the last 10 games at Trask Coliseum.
 
With 998 wins over 71 seasons, the Seahawks are nearing the 1,000 total in the program's history. UNCW stands 998-940 (.515) since starting the program in 1951-52.

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

Mike Okauru

#4 Mike Okauru

G
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Shykeim Phillips

#2 Shykeim Phillips

G
6' 2"
Junior
Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

G
6' 6"
Senior
James Baker, Jr.

#3 James Baker, Jr.

G
6' 7"
Graduate Student
Jaylen Fornes

#1 Jaylen Fornes

G
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Trazarien White

#13 Trazarien White

F
6' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mike Okauru

#4 Mike Okauru

6' 4"
Graduate Student
G
Shykeim Phillips

#2 Shykeim Phillips

6' 2"
Junior
G
Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

6' 6"
Senior
G
James Baker, Jr.

#3 James Baker, Jr.

6' 7"
Graduate Student
G
Jaylen Fornes

#1 Jaylen Fornes

6' 3"
Graduate Student
G
Trazarien White

#13 Trazarien White

6' 6"
Freshman
F