By Logan Harle
Contributing Writer
It will be a battle of first-place teams in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) men’s basketball standings when the red-hot University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks take their seven-game winning streak to New York to face Hofstra on Thursday, Feb. 4.
With a 65-55 homecoming win over College of Charleston on Saturday, Jan. 30 in front of a boisterous crowd at Trask Coliseum, the Seahawks moved their record to 16-5, 8-2 in the CAA, while extending their winning streak to the longest since the 2005-06 season.
Pompoms created a sea of teal in the stands, which were sold out for the first time since 2008. The loud and excited fans helped contribute to the UNCW win, second-year head coach Kevin Keatts said after the game.
“I thought our guys accepted the challenge. I thought our crowd was tremendous, I thought they had a lot to do with our success tonight,” Keatts said on the 47th sellout in the coliseum’s 39-year history.
The winning streak and the Seahawks’ claim of a share of first place in the CAA have helped boost the players’ confidence heading into the final stretch of conference play.
“It’s a great feeling. The team chemistry is above and beyond,” said junior center C.J Gettys. “The guys are excited to come to practice, excited to focus in for game day and we look forward to every game.”
The Seahawks got off to a quick start against the College of Charleston on Saturday, scoring 37 first-half points to take a nine-point halftime lead. Charleston’s second-year coach, Earl Grant, said the first half really set the pace for the rest of the game.
“We turned the ball over too much and they were able to open up the game,” Grant said. “Eleven turnovers in the first half were way too many. We take care of the ball about 95 percent of the time and I didn’t expect this.”
The College of Charleston Cougars are known for their great defense, Keatts said, which at first challenged the Seahawks before they built an overwhelming lead of 62-46 with 3:08Â remaining.
“One thing we knew about Charleston coming into this game is that they are a great defensive team,” Keatts said. “They make you earn every basket that you get.”
UNCW was led by junior guard Chris Flemmings with 25 points. UNCW’s relentless pressure defense helped force another 30 points from Charleston turnovers.
The Seahawks’ homecoming win comes after a key conference win on Thursday, when UNCW downed James Madison 78-73 in a road test that matched up two of the CAA’s top three teams.
UNCW will face Hofstra on Thursday, Feb. 4 in Hamstead, New York, at 7 p.m. and Northeastern in Boston at 7Â p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. The Seahawks next home game is against Elon on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
