Dragons Downed by Sharp Shooting UNCW Thursday, 90-72

Thursday, January 5

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00

Drexel University

0-36-10. CAA

UNCW

14-2, 3-0CAA

UNCW

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Dragons Downed by Sharp Shooting UNCW Thursday, 90-72

1/5/2017 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Drexel men's basketball team dug itself an early hole that it ultimately could not climb out of Thursday at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, falling to the UNCW Seahawks, 90-72.

UNCW (14-2, 3-0 CAA), the preseason favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association, came out of the gate and shot better than 60 percent from the field in the opening half. The Seahawks stepped on the gas from the tip, going on a 14-2 run to start the game that culminated in a Chris Flemmings three at the 15:49 mark. Flemmings finished the night with 19 points and three treys. UNCW grew its lead out to as many as 25 points as the half moved into the final minute on a three by Denzel Ingram, who finished with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and six threes to go along with five assists. The Dragons shot just 26 percent in the first half and trailed 49-26 heading into the locker room.

The Dragons held their own in the second half and began to chip into the deficit. Just over three minutes into the period, Rodney Williams converted on a dunk and an and-one to get the Dragons' deficit under 20 points for the first time since the three-minute mark of the first. Williams had his third double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds to along with two blocks. With the score 77-56 with 9:07 to play, the Dragons began to make their move, going on a 13-1 run which included three threes from John Moran, who finished with 12 points on four makes from deep. The burst made it a 78-69 game with 5:34 left; however, Moran's three would be the final field goal of the contest. The Seahawks would pull away again and close out the 90-72 victory.

In addition to Ingram and Flemmings, UNCW also got major contributions from Devontae Cacok and C.J. Bryce. Cacok, one of the nation's leaders in shooting percentage, finished with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grabbed 14 boards. Bryce scored eleven and added seven boards and seven assists. For the Dragons, Miles Overton and Kurk Lee, who each chipped in with 11, joined Williams and Moran in double figures. The Seahawks finished the game shooting 52 percent from the field, while the Dragons shot 38 percent despite a 49-percent clip in the second half.

Drexel (6-10, 0-3 CAA) will head to William & Mary (8-6, 2-1 CAA) for a Saturday matchup with the Tribe beginning at 4 p.m.