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Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Open Final Road Trip In Philly

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's basketball team plays the penultimate game of the 2021-22 regular season on Thursday night and the importance of the game is undeniable.
 
The Seahawks, 19-8 overall and 13-3 in the conference, take on the Drexel Dragons, 14-12 and 9-7, in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Daskalakis Center.
 
With two games remaining on the Colonial Athletic Association docket, the Seahawks are locked in a tie with Towson (13-3) for first place in the CAA's regular season standings. Hofstra (11-4) holds down third place and Delaware stands fourth (10-5). Drexel sits in fifth place (9-7).
 
"We've had a good week of practice," said second-year head coach Takayo Siddle. "Rest has been a big priority. We're looking forward to the challenge this week's games present and are looking to finish out strong."
 
Thursday's matchup in Philadelphia will be carried locally on The Breeze 95.9 FM, with play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro on the call.

UNCW closed its four-game homestand in storybook fashion last Saturday, rallying from nine points down with five minutes remaining to pull out a 78-77 victory over James Madison before a sellout crowd at Trask Coliseum.
 
The Seahawks registered their third conference sweep of the season (Charleston, James Madison and Northeastern) with Saturday's victory. UNCW is looking to add its fourth sweep Thursday night in Philly.
 
Senior guard Jaylen Sims has been on a tear lately, averaging 24.8 ppg over the last four outings. He has eight 20+ point games and four straight heading into the key road trip.
 
Drexel brings a modest two-game winning streak into the contest at the 2,509-seat Daskalakis Center. The Dragons trimmed Elon, 71-60, last Saturday at the Schar Center in Elon. The Dragons have won three of their last four outings and stand 4-3 at home this season.
 
The Seahawks are facing Drexel star Camren Wynter for the seventh time. The 2021 CAA Tournament MVP and Preseason Player of the Year has averaged 13.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in six appearances against the Seahawks, including a 30-point explosion on Dec. 28, 2019, in Philadelphia.
 
The Seahawks stand 7-5 in true road games this season. UNCW has beaten Delaware State, High Point, Charleston, James Madison, Towson, Northeastern and William & Mary away from home this season.
 
The Seahawks tie a bow on the regular season when Takayo Siddle's club travels over to Newark, Del., early Saturday to take on Delaware's Blue Hens. UNCW started the CAA slate with the Blue Hens and wraps up the conference slate with UD.
 
UNCW-Drexel Net Notes
 
Sims was selected the CAA's Player of the Week early Monday after the Seahawks claimed a pair of victories that kept the club atop the league standings. He averaged 24.0 points and 6.7 rebounds as the Seahawks defeated William & Mary and James Madison in overtime sandwiched around a loss to Towson.
 
The Seahawks own a 22-15 advantage in the 37-game series. UNCW has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two clubs.
 
The two teams have split 16 games at the Daskalakis Center. The Dragons have won two straight and six of the last 10 against the Seahawks in Philly. UNCW's last win at the Dak came on Feb. 24, 2018, in an 83-82 thriller.
 
Siddle makes his first appearance as a head coach at the Daskalakis Center. He brought the club to Philadelphia for last season's scheduled game on Jan. 2, 2021, but the game was canceled due to a positive test in the Seahawk program. Siddle went 1-2 against the Dragons as an assistant with the Seahawks under Kevin Keatts from 2014-17.
 
With 999 victories over 71 seasons, the Seahawks are just one win away from 1,000 in the program's history. UNCW stands 999-940 (.515) since beginning 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

Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

G
6' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

6' 6"
Senior
G