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UNC Wilmington Athletics

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thomas_sbu
Chris Crouch
69
Stony Brook SBU 10-20,6-11 CAA
76
Winner UNCW UNCW 22-8,12-5 CAA
Stony Brook SBU
10-20,6-11 CAA
69
Final
76
UNCW UNCW
22-8,12-5 CAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Stony Brook SBU 36 33 69
UNCW UNCW 41 35 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Joe Browning

Thomas Powers Seahawks To Sweep Of Seawolves

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Sophomore guard Jamarii Thomas scored 16 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to lift UNCW over Stony Brook, 76-69, completing a sweep of the regular season series with the Colonial Athletic Association newcomers on Thursday night at Trask Coliseum.
 
The Seahawks hiked their record to 22-8 overall and 12-5 in the CAA with the victory. The Seawolves, making their debut at Trask Coliseum, dropped to 10-20 and 6-11.
 
With the win, the 2022-23 club tied for the second most regular season victories in the school's history. The Seahawks, who sit in third place in the loop, complete the regular season on Saturday with a 7 p.m. start vs. fourth-place Towson at Trask Coliseum.
 
Thomas shattered his previous high of 17 points by connecting on 8-for-14 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from long distance, and was perfect on all six of his free throw attempts.  Backcourt mate Trazarien White pitched in 13 points and dished out six assists for the Seahawks, who delivered 16 assists on 26 baskets.
 
Graduate center Keenan Fitzmorris was high man with 25 points for the Seawolves, who shot 51.9 percent on the night. The Stanford transfer carried the Seawolves in the first 20 minutes, scoring 16 points, mostly in the paint area.
 
"I thought Stony Brook pushed us all the way to the end," said Takayo Siddle, UNCW's third-year head coach. "I knew it would be a tough game the way they guard. Guys made big plays for us in the second half and we made our free throws when we needed to.
 
"Jamarii saw a few go in early. Everything was in rhythm and he didn't force anything. I think he's better when he doesn't force plays. He let it come to him and I thought that really helped in."
 
The Seahawks led by five points at the break, 41-36, and overcame a cold spell early in the final period to get over the hump against Stony Brook's new-look 3-2 zone defense. UNCW went 1-for-14 over the first 10 minutes of the last period, but clutch play from Thomas, White and reserve Nick Farrar thwarted the Seawolves.
 
UNCW led, 60-58, following a White bucket in the lane with 5:35 left to play, but Tyler Stephenson-Moore, Stony Brook's leading scorer, made back-to-back shots to help the Seawolves close the gap to 60-58 at the 4:22 mark.
 
Farrar answered with a bucket inside and Thomas sank a layup to get the margin back to six points and the Seahawks held on for their 11th home victory of the season.
 
Fitzmorris carried the Seawolves in the early going, connecting on 6-for-9 from the field and converting three free throw attempts for 16 points in the first half. His previous career high in scoring was 17 at Delaware on Feb. 13.
 
The Seawolves led by five points, 8-3, when Fitzmorris dropped in a pair of free throws with 16:12 left in the first period. Neither team led by more than four points over the next eight minutes until a dunk by Thomas at 7:22 lifted the Seahawks to a 24-19 advantage.
 
Stony Brook rallied to take the lead briefly, 32-31, on Frankie Policelli's three-pointer on the left wing, but the Seahawks went on a 10-4 run over the final 1:38 of the opening half and took a 41-36 edge into the locker room when White converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 6.3 seconds left on the clock.
 
Saturday's regular season finale will be Senior Night at Trask Coliseum, with graduate forward Victor Enoh and senior forward Amari Kelly scheduled to be honored prior to tipoff. Retiring Director of Athletics Jimmy Bass will also be recognized during a special halftime presentation.
 
GAME NOTES: UNCW improved to 11-2 at Trask Coliseum…UNCW defeated Stony Brook, 62-51, on Jan. 21, 2023, on Long Island….Stony Brook won the rebounding battle, 38-27…The Seahawks forced 19 turnovers…UNCW had just seven miscues…The Seawolves fell to 3-12 on the road this season…UNCW is now 2-1 against Long Island opponents…The Seahawks are 37-21 lifetime vs. New York foes…Newby's 12 points was the most of the season in the first half for the Chicago Heights, Ill., product…The Seahawks had three dunks in the first period…Noah Ross returned to the floor after missing 10 contests…Stephenson-Moore did not score until the 16:28 mark of the second half…UNCW's bench contributed 38 of the team's 76 points…There were seven lead changes and six ties…Attendance was 3,707.


 
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