Seahawks capture Colonial and NCAA berth
CHARLESTON, S.C. >> C.J. Bryce, Devontae Cacok and company were headed off to celebrate when UNC Wilmington coach Kevin Keatts reminded his jubilant players to take their box scores.
“That’s a championship stat sheet,” Keatts said. “Get used to that.” They’re working on it. Bryce scored 24 points, and UNC Wilmington clinched its second straight NCAA Tournament berth with a 78-69 victory over College of Charleston in the Colonial Athletic Association championship Monday night.
“We’re champions again,” Keatts said. “We’re going dancing.”
The Seahawks (29-5) grabbed control with an 18-5 run in the second half. Bryce sparked the decisive surge with a 3-pointer and finished it off with another long-range basket, making it 65-50 with 8:25 remaining.
College of Charleston closed to 7669 on Evan Bailey’s 3-pointer with 17 seconds left, but it ran out of time for a comeback. The Cougars (25-9) dropped to 0-6 in conference tournament finals since they last made it to the NCAAs by winning the Southern Conference title in 1999.
Seahawk fans rushed the court to join the celebration when the buzzer sounded. Players jumped and shouted. “We’re not done yet,” Bryce told the crowd.
Cacok had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Seahawks, who extended their single-season record with their 29th victory. It was Cacok’s 12th double-double of the season.
UNCW is 1-5 in its five previous NCAA tournaments, winning its firstround game in 2002 against No. 4 seed Southern California before falling in the next game to Indiana.
The Seahawks lost 93-85 to fourthseeded Duke a year ago. Bryce had 16 in that game.
“This is definitely a confidence boost,” said Bryce, a sophomore named the tournament’s most outstanding player. “As long as we stay focused, we’ll be good.”
Keatts declined to address whether the Seahawks deserve a better NCAA seed than last year’s group. “But since last year’s (Duke) loss, we’ve only lost five games,” he said. “That’s hard to do.”
Denzel Ingram had 11 points for UNC Wilmington.
Joe Chealey had 21 points for the Cougars, and Jarrell Brantley finished with 20.
Chealey said the team will learn from the experience.
“We got a taste of what it’s like,” he said. “We’ll be back.” MAAC: IONA 87, SIENA 86 >> Jordan Washington had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Iona held off Siena 8786 in overtime to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Despite playing with four fouls, Washington scored six points in the tense extra period, hitting a tough scoop shot and four free throws. Marquis Wright hit a 3 at the final buzzer as Siena came up just short.
Iona (22-12) won its MAAC-record 10th title and improved to 9-0 against Siena in the conference tournament. Fourth-seeded Siena (17-17) advanced to the conference championship game for the first time in seven years.
Deyshonee Much had 18 points for Iona, and Rickey McGill finished with 14.
Wright finished with 29 points. Javion Ogunyemi had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Saints, and Brett Bisping added 16 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out.
Trailing by a basket at the break, the Gaels tied it at 40 when McGill drained an open 3 from the corner early in the second half. Schadrac Casimir and Much followed with two more from beyond the arc and a layup by Much gave the Gaels a 50-44 lead with 16:44 left. SOUTHERN: EAST TENNESSEE STATE 79, UNC GRENNSBORON 74. >> T.J. Cromer scored 23 points, and East Tennessee State beat top-seeded UNC Greensboro to win the Southern Conference Tournament.
The Buccaneers (27-7) rallied in the second half to secure their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
Francis Alonso made five 3-pointers and scored 28 points for UNC Greensboro (25-9), which beat East Tennessee State twice during the regular season and led by seven at halftime.