UNC Wilmington's strong second-half surge propelled them to a 75-71 victory over Stony Brook at Stony Brook Arena. The Seahawks, who trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half, outscored the Seawolves 54-28 in the final 20 minutes to secure the win. Nolan Hodge led the charge for UNC Wilmington, scoring 22 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, while Erik Pratt paced Stony Brook with 24 points.
The first half was all Stony Brook, as the Seawolves built a commanding 43-21 lead at the break. Pratt and Rob Brown III combined for 36 points in the first half, with Pratt scoring 14 of his 24 points in the opening 20 minutes. However, UNC Wilmington regrouped at halftime and came out with renewed energy in the second half. The Seahawks' offense, which was stagnant in the first half, began to click, and they slowly chipped away at the Stony Brook lead.
Patrick Wessler and Madison Durr provided key contributions for UNC Wilmington, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively. Wessler also pulled down 12 rebounds, helping the Seahawks to a 37-31 advantage on the glass. As the second half wore on, UNC Wilmington's defense began to stifle the Stony Brook offense, holding the Seawolves to just 28 points in the final 20 minutes.
The turning point in the game came with around 10 minutes remaining, when UNC Wilmington embarked on a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to just 5 points. From there, the Seahawks continued to push the pace, eventually taking the lead with just over 2 minutes left. Stony Brook had opportunities to retake the lead, but the Seahawks' defense held strong, securing the 75-71 victory.
This win marks a significant Quadrant 3 victory for UNC Wilmington, who improved to 18-3 on the season. The Seahawks' strong second-half performance will undoubtedly be a confidence booster as they continue their campaign. For Stony Brook, the loss drops them to 12-9, but the Seawolves can take solace in the fact that they pushed a top-100 team to the wire. As the season wears on, this Quadrant 3 loss may not be overly detrimental to their tournament resume, but it does highlight the need for the Seawolves to capitalize on opportunities against strong opponents.
The victory for UNC Wilmington strengthens their tournament resume, particularly given the quality of their performance in the second half. With a current Net ranking of 104, the Seahawks are firmly in the mix for a postseason berth. As they navigate the remainder of their schedule, UNC Wilmington want to build on this momentum and solidify their position as a tournament contender.