UNCW Edges Drexel in Wilmington, 70-63

Monday, January 31

Wilmington, N.C.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

9-10,4-5CAA

UNCW

15-5,9-0CAA

Drexel

UNCW

1/31/2022 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW stayed unbeaten in Colonial Athletic Association play with a 70-63 win against Drexel in the Trask Coliseum. The Dragons (9-10, 4-5 CAA) led early, but UNCW's defense forced 19 turnovers on its way to a school-record 12^th straight win.

The Seahawks (15-5, 9-0) trailed for the majority of the game but took their first lead of the second half at the 9:11 mark. Drexel answered on a Melik Martin bank shot to get the lead back on the ensuing possession. The game went back and forth for the next few minutes and Drexel took another lead, this one at 59-58. Martin converted a 3-point play with 5:19 to play. The lead didn't last long as Jaylen Forbes sand a 3-pointer just 17 seconds later. Drexel turned the ball over, leading to an easy lay-up seconds later as the lead increased to four points. Drexel would not lead again.

Drexel's 19 turnovers led to 29 UNCW points. The Seahawks had five different players have at least a steal in the game. Coletrane Washington finished the game with a team-high 14 points, all coming in the first half. Martin had 12 points to go along with seven rebounds. James Butler grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. The Dragons shot 48 percent in the game, including 40 percent from deep, but had all six of their treys in the first half.

UNCW was led by Jaylen Sims 19 points. Mike Okauru added 16 points. Drexel managed to hold UNCW to just 26 percent from behind the arc, but UNCW answered with 34 points in the paint.

For the second straight game the Dragons came out strong to start the game. Drexel used an 8-0 run midway through the half to take a double-digit lead. The margin increased to as many as 18 after Melik Martin drained a 3-pointer with 6:22 to go in the first half to make it 31-13. UNCW countered with a 16-2 run to get the momentum back. Coletrane Washington and James Butler made back-to-back buckets to quiet the crowd before Jaylen Sims closed the half with a 3-pointer as Drexel went to the break ahead by five. Mike Okauru had 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, all coming in the final 6:04.

The Dragons conclude their four-game road swing on Thursday night at Delaware. That game can be seen live on the CBS Sports Network beginning at 6 p.m.