First, a look back.
The date was Jan. 12, and it was beginning to look like the Pride might finally win against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington at Trask Coliseum-widely noted as “The Toughest Place To Play in the CAA.”
The Pride played a crisp first half and ended it on a 13-5 run which helped it to a 45-31 lead at the break. The Seahawks turned it around in the second half, opening with a 9-0 run and eventually tied the ballgame at 57 with two foul shots by senior guard Halston Lane with 9:48 remaining on the clock.
The Seahawks hit 13 of 14 free throws in the second half, and T.J. Carter scored 14 of his team-high 16 points to help lift the Seahawks over the Pride. It was the Pride’s third loss of the season-one that the Pride opened with nine straight victories.
UNC-Wilmington came into last Saturday’s game on a winning streak of it’s own-eight straight wins against the Pride. Saturday, Pecora and his players enjoyed a much better fortune. Loren Stokes and Antoine Agudio both scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures.
UNC-Wilmington followed up an uncharacteristic 7-for-23 shooting performance in the first half to shoot 51 percent, including 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. The Pride never let go of its lead held on for a 74-68 victory at Hofstra Arena-quite easily one of the best efforts of the season. The Pride improved its record to 16-7 overall, (8-6, CAA). Meanwhile, UNC-Wilmington dropped to 15-8, (10-4, CAA).
Pride starters logged an average of 34 minutes against UNC-Wilmington. Antoine Agudio and Mike Radziejewski both ended the game with 39 minutes each. Pecora hinted that practices become less intense as March approaches, as he asks more of his players in games. The players, meanwhile, look to a most unlikely source for a boost.
“The crowd definitely gives us energy,” said Loren Stokes after the win before 3,328. “They come to see us play well, and it feels good to be able to perform the way that we did.”
Stokes notched his third career double-double, scoring 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Whether it was a key defensive rebound down the stretch or a pair of made free-throws, Stokes led the charge to defeat an upper-echelon team in the league-a win the Pride will remember in two weeks when the CAA Tournament begins.
Perhaps no one was more excited than Aurimas Kieza, who was inserted into the starting lineup by coach Tom Pecora in place of the injured Carlos Rivera (knee). The Pride obviously lost depth with Rivera out, but Kieza, who has struggled this season, responded nicely with 10 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes of play. Kieza scored a three-pointer at the 15:22 mark to put the Pride up 12-2.
“I told Aurimas you’ve got to play through it,” Pecora said of Kieza’s shooting woes. “He’s been working hard in practice and it’s starting to show. He’ll be fine.”
The Pride out-rebounded its opponent 19-16 in the first half and led 32-23 at intermission. The Pride knew it could not rely on big shots to win against a top team in the conference, but just kept faltering.
Antoine Agudio shot 5-for-8 from the three-point line, including one that helped the Pride extend its halftime lead to 14. It held off a late surge led by the Seahawks’ behind solid play from T.J. Carter who had 13 points.
The Pride was so strong against UNC-Wilmington in part because one of its weaknesses turned into a strength- shooting 21 of 30 from the line. Though it was not a stellar performance, Pecora will take improvements as they come. In the end, he was pleased at the play of his seniors.
“Seniors worry about winning,” Pecora said. “Underclassmen worry about how many minutes they play and how many shots they get to take-but when your seniors step up, you’re going to win basketball games.”
Sophomore guard Loren Stokes has put together a stellar second year and has the Pride playing at a high level. Stokes (above) throws it down against St. John´s. (Photo Courtesy Athletic Dept.)