As Spartans Make Winning Plays, Seahawks Suffer Another Loss
UNCW couldn't make the big plays late vs. Norfolk State
Norfolk State 74, UNCW 69
Another one got away from the Seahawks.
What would have easily been UNCW’s best victory of the season instead turned into another near-miss, as the Spartans took control over the final minutes and put away a 74-69 victory at the free throw line.
Mike Okauru scored 18 points to lead four Seahawks in double figures, with Jamahri Harvey continuing his solid play with 13 points, while Jaylen Sims and James Baker Jr. had 12 points apiece.
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With the loss, UNCW heads into a 10-day break for exams with plenty to evaluate and several reasons for optimism.
Here’s what we learned on Wednesday night at Trask Coliseum.
Learning to Win
Late in the game, it became pretty clear which team had fourth- and fifth-year guys that have won a league title and which is still learning how to play together.
Three times in the final five minutes, UNCW hit momentum-swinging shots (two Okauru layups and a Harvey 3-pointer) to go up by three points.
Each time, NSU quickly calmed down the Trask crowd with an answer.
None was bigger than Spartan point guard Joe Bryant — who wasn’t playing his best — powering through the lane for a contested layup to make it 68-67 with 45 seconds to play.
That go-ahead bucket was set up when, with UNCW leading 68-67, Sims drove to the right and spun into contested fadeaway with 15 seconds on the shot clock. The shot had a chance, but it rolled off to the give the Spartans possession with 54 seconds remaining.
A team used to being in that position likely gets a more high-percentage look.
Then, in a case of rotten luck for a guy who had a great night, Okauru dribbled off his foot with 12 seconds left and UNCW trailing 70-67.
Over the final four minutes, the Spartans made 4 of 5 field goal attempts and went a perfect 6 for 6 at the free throw line. UNCW, meanwhile, made 4 of 9 from the field with two turnovers.
If it’s frustrating for fans, it’s hard to imagine how tough it is for the players and coaches going through it on the floor. Experience, unfortunately, is the best teacher. Hopefully nights like this mean better things are coming next time the Seahawks find themselves in a close one.
Jamahri and Jamarii
Either way they spell it, it was a good night.
With 13 points on Wednesday, Harvey has consecutive games in double figures for the first time in his young career, and his blossoming confidence is obvious. Absolutely wanted that big 3-point attempt late and didn’t hesitate for a second.
Over his past two games, he’s hit seven 3-pointers, on his way to 27 points with just two turnovers. Prior to that, he provided a major energy boost in the win over Coastal Carolina and scored seven points during UNCW’s big run.
Bringing similar energy on Wednesday was freshman Jamarii Thomas, whose impact went far beyond the box score as he played a career-high 13 minutes and helped the Seahawks finally get going early in the first half.
When NSU dropped into a zone, Thomas was UNCW’s most effective ballhandler in terms of getting inside the arc, moving the ball and making sure the Seahawks didn’t just sit back and toss up 3-pointers.
Playing alongside Shykeim Phillips can mean defensive challenges for UNCW, but in the short-term, the energy burst might be worth it.
It seems likely we’ll be seeing more and more of Jamahri and Jamarii in the coming weeks.
Gotta Make Shots
One night, UNCW’s shot luck will turn in glorious fashion.
It’s going to be completely absurd and spectacular, when the open shots that are bouncing out right now start dropping through the net and the Seahawks go 17 of 25 from 3-point range.
Until then, we’ll dream.
Again, the Seahawks got some pretty good shots on Wednesday, but just didn’t make enough of them — 8 of 26 from 3-point range and 17 of 35 inside the arc.
Officially, UNCW was 4 of 10 on layups, and perhaps most devastating, 14 of 22 at the free throw line.
One make here and another there, and we’re talking about the best win of the year.
Jaylen Fornes, who has been a good 3-point shooter for his whole career, is currently mired in a slump, missing 12 of 14 from beyond the arc over the past two games.
Gotta Bring the Energy
About eight minutes of the game cost UNCW dearly.
From the opening tip until about the 15-minute mark, the Seahawks aren’t guarding at the level they need to be successful, and suddenly, they flipped a switch and looked good enough to beat anyone in the CAA.
For the next 10 minutes, the Spartans would miss 15 of their 16 shots as the Seahawks brought Trask to life and took a lead, that ultimately became a 34-34 tie at the half.
Strangely enough, UNCW came out in a similar malaise in the second half, with NSU quickly jumping out to a 44-38 lead before Coach Takayo Siddle called a timeout with at the 16:57 mark for an animated conversation with his team.
There’s a wide range of performance for the Seahawks, and it’s all based on energy.
Playing with emotion and energy, the Seahawks dominated a win over Coastal Carolina and led spirited comebacks against Pitt. Without it, they nearly lost to Division-III Guilford, let one get away at Illinois State and fell behind early vs. NSU.
Looking Ahead
The Seahawks are off until a Dec. 11 visit to Jacksonville, leaving the coaching staff time to evaluate and experiment, while the players will have time to get healthy and rested after plentiful travel and illness.
Siddle and his assistants are trying to get this thing figured out, as evidenced by Wednesday’s run at using Sims as a point guard. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave the Seahawks a different look.
They’ve used four different starting lineups and continue to tinker with combinations — even some unconventional ones.
UNCW is on the verge of putting it together and playing a complete 40 minutes on both ends.
Maybe it’s finally coming after a few days off.