Junior forward Cedrick Williams swatted away a game-tying attempt by Prince Williams as time expired to preserve a 70-68 victory for UNCW over East Carolina in college men’s basketball late Sunday at Minges Coliseum.
“Our kids fought all night long and played with a lot of energy,” said fourth-year UNCW Head Coach Buzz Peterson. “I kept feeling good about it because we were scoring when we had to. Cedrick Williams made a big-time play with the block and you have to give him a lot of credit.”
Williams, who shared game-high scoring honors with 17 points and nine rebounds, was one of four players in double figures for the Seahawks, who shot 53.6 percent in the second half to take down the Pirates. Junior guard Addison Spruill and senior forward Shane Reybold added 15 points apiece and junior guard Freddie Jackson contributed 13 off the bench for UNCW.
In a see-saw battle that featured five ties and 10 lead changes, UNCW was in control most of the way and strung together six points with just under two minutes left to build a 69-64 lead on a Cedrick Williams monster slam with 30 seconds remaining.
The Seahawks, playing the middle leg of three games in five days, evened their record at 5-5 with the uplifting victory in the first game played between the two teams since Dec. 3, 2008. East Carolina lost for just the second time this season and stands 6-2.
UNCW returns home to entertain their second straight state foe when Campbell visits Trask Coliseum on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
