(Courtesy William & Mary)
One of William & Mary’s chief bugaboos this season has been poor starts. So many times, the Tribe would fall behind early by double digits and spent the rest of the night clawing back.
Saturday night in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, W&M flipped the script by taking a 10-point lead in the first eight minutes. By dominating the boards and having its best defensive performance of the season, the Tribe cruised past UNC Wilmington 73-60 in Harrisonburg.
W&M (7-9), which will go against No. 2 seed Northeastern Sunday at 6 p.m., held the Seahawks to 3-of-14 shooting in the game’s first 9½ minutes. At that point, the Tribe’s lead was 17-6.
Elon looks to end streak vs UNCW
February 4, 2021 GMT
Schar Center, Elon, North Carolina; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNC Wilmington looks to extend Elon’s conference losing streak to seven games. Elon’s last CAA win came against the William & Mary Tribe 68-63 on March 8, 2020. UNC Wilmington fell 89-83 at home to Hofstra on Sunday.
TEAM LEADERS: Elon’s Hunter McIntosh has averaged 18.1 points while Hunter Woods has put up 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. For the Seahawks, Mike Okauru has averaged 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while Joe Pridgen has put up 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds.
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KEY CONTRIBUTOR: McIntosh has directly created 48 percent of all Elon field goals over the last three games. McIntosh has 20 field goals and 10 assists in those games.
2021/02/01 05:06 WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) Isaac Kante had a season-high 21 points as Hofstra defeated UNC Wilmington 89-83 on Sunday, scoring the last five points of the game in the final two minutes. Jalen Ray had 18 points for Hofstra (11-6, 7-3 Colonial Athletic Association), which won its fifth consecutive game. Kvonn Cramer, who had 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, had a big dunk after an offensive rebound with 1:45 to play, Caleb Burgess had 15 points, including two free throws with 17 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, and six rebounds. Mike Okauru scored a career-high 30 points plus nine rebounds and six assists for the Seahawks (7-8, 1-5), who missed three shots in their final two possessions. Jake Boggs added 21 points and six rebounds. Jamahri Harvey had 11 points.
Hofstra looks to extend streak vs UNCW
January 30, 2021 GMT
Raiford G. Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, North Carolina; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Hofstra looks for its fifth straight conference win against UNC Wilmington. Hofstra’s last CAA loss came against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 74-56 on Jan. 15. UNC Wilmington lost 82-73 loss at home to Hofstra in its most recent game.
FEARLESS FRESHMEN: Hofstra’s Jalen Ray, Isaac Kante and Kvonn Cramer have collectively accounted for 55 percent of the team’s scoring this season and have scored 72 percent of all Pride points over the last five games.
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CLAMPING DOWN: The Pride have allowed just 68.7 points per game to Colonial Athletic opponents thus far. That’s an improvement from the 73.3 per game they gave up against non-conference competition.
Hofstra, UNCW meet in conference play
January 28, 2021 GMT
Raiford G. Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, North Carolina; Saturday, 1 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNC Wilmington plays host to Hofstra in a CAA matchup. Both teams last saw action this past Sunday. Hofstra beat Towson by five, while UNC Wilmington fell to Delaware, 67-62.
SENIOR STUDS: UNC Wilmington’s Jaylen Sims, Mike Okauru and Ty Gadsden have collectively accounted for 55 percent of the team’s scoring this season, including 56 percent of all Seahawks points over the last five games.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS: The Pride have given up only 68.1 points per game across eight conference games, an improvement from the 73.3 per game they gave up against non-conference opponents.