UNC-Wilmington wins 8th straight, 81-71 over East Carolina (Dec 20, 2016)

By AP
Published

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) Denzel Ingram made six 3-pointers and scored 26 points, C.J. Bryce had 25 points and eight rebounds, and UNC-Wilmington won its eighth straight in an 81-71 victory over East Carolina on Tuesday night.

Deng Riak threw down a dunk to pull ECU within nine points with 6:11 left but Ingram answered with a 3-pointer for a 75-63 lead and the Seahawks led by double figures the rest of the way.

UNC-Wilmington (11-1), which entered averaging 95.3 points during its winning streak, has high expectations this season following an NCAA Tournament appearance.

UNCW used a 13-0 run, as ECU went scoreless for two-plus minutes, to take a 25-10 lead. The Seahawks led by 10 points at halftime behind 11 points apiece from Ingram and Bryce. ECU was just 7 of 29 from the floor (24 percent) in the first half.

B.J. Tyson scored 17 points for East Carolina (7-5), which was coming off a 35-point showing against the College of Charleston.

It was the 64th meeting in the regional rivalry and the 50th sellout (5,200) in Trask Coliseum history.