UNCW Outlasts Drexel, 87-74

Saturday, January 21

Wilmington, N.C.

4:00

Drexel University

7-13 (1-6CAA)

UNCW

19-2 (8-0CAA)

Drexel

UNCW

1/21/2017 6:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Wilmington, N.C. – Rodney Williams had his fourth double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough as Drexel fell to UNCW, 87-74, on Saturday in Trask Coliseum. The Dragons held UNCW to just 27 percent shooting from long range, but UNCW (19-2, was able to overcome its long-range shooting to win for the eighth-straight time and stay unbeaten in CAA play. Drexel fell to 7-13 overall and 1-6 in the league.

Sammy Mojica led the Dragons with 15 points on the day. Rodney Williams finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Kurk Lee added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

All five starters scored in double figures for UNCW. Devontae Cacok had a huge game for UNCW. He scored 12 points and grabbed a school-record 24 rebounds. That number was the most rebounds ever in a CAA league game. Cacok had 11 of his boards on the offensive end as the Seahawks turned 20 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points. Chris Flemmings scored 17 points, while Denzel Ingram had 13 points and seven assists.

The Dragons trailed by just two with 15 minutes remaining after a Lee drive made it 53-51. UNCW answered with a 12-0 run, seven of those points coming from C.J. Bryce. The Seahawks kept the lead at 10 or more the rest of the way. Despite the outcome, the Dragons played well defensively for most of the game. Drexel held the high-powered UNCW offense to 44 percent shooting. The Seahawks were just 9-for-34 from deep. On the other end, the Dragons shot 46 percent and turned the ball over just 12 times against the Seahawks' tough press.

UNCW raced out of the gate in the first half once again against the Dragons and led 8-2 after an Ambrose Mosley three-pointer. However, in this meeting the Dragons responded much better than they did in Philadelphia. Mohamed Bah came off the bench and immediately completed a three-point play and then scored on a lay-up as Drexel took the lead. Bah finished the day with seven points and six rebounds. UNCW made a late run to take a seven-point lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half, but once again the visitors answered. Drexel made six-straight free throws in the final six minutes. The Dragons also got a big three from Miles Overton and a pair of dunks from Rodney Williams to cut the lead to just one. UNCW's Marcus Bryan put home an offensive rebound as the half closed to give the Seahawks a 43-40 advantage. Drexel shot 50 percent in the first half and did a good job of defending the perimeter. UNCW made just four of its 21 long-range attempts.

The Dragons return home for a two-game homestand as part of Homecoming Weekend. Drexel will host Hofstra on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Daskalakis Athletic Center and the College of Charleston on Saturday at 2 p.m.