In Washington, UNC Wilmington secured a thrilling victory over Delaware, claiming the Coastal Athletic Association championship title with a 76-72 win on Tuesday night. Donovan Newby was instrumental in the triumph, contributing 17 points, while Noah Ross added 12 of his 14 points in a decisive second half for the Seahawks.
This victory marks the seventh CAA title for second-seeded UNC Wilmington (27-7) since the 1982-83 season, bringing them back into the limelight after their previous back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.
Delaware (16-20), entering the tournament on a six-game losing streak, was on the cusp of making history. After a challenging 30-point loss to UNCW in their last regular-season game, the Blue Hens bounced back with four consecutive wins. They aimed to become just the third team in Division I men’s basketball history to clinch a conference title after playing five games in five days.
In the tense final moments of the game, Newby expertly sank four consecutive free throws in the final 13.8 seconds. These vital shots came immediately after Delaware’s freshman Izaiah Pasha hit a crucial 3-pointer to narrow the gap to 74-72. Newby was flawless at the free-throw line, finishing 8 for 8.
Additional support for UNCW came from Bo Montgomery, who scored 13 points, and Khamari McGriff, contributing 10 points.
Pasha shone for Delaware with an impressive 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. He was supported by Niels Lane with 20 points, Cavan Reilly with 13, and John Camden adding 12.
The Seahawks initially surged to a 22-10 lead within the first 13 minutes, as Delaware struggled with their shots, managing just 3 of 19. However, the Blue Hens rallied with a strong offensive push, hitting five consecutive shots, sparking a 16-3 run that cut UNCW’s lead to 31-28 with just over a minute to play in the half.
John Camden’s contested 3-pointer just over four minutes into the second half gave Delaware their first lead, at 41-40, since early in the game when the score was 5-4.
