UNCW continues its basketball mastery of ECU

The Seahawks win 95-86 for their 10th victory in their last 11 meetings with the Seahawks

Freshman guard Kai Toews drives to the basket during Tuesday's win against ECU (John Crouch/UNCW athletics photo)

WILMINGTON (AP) — Jeantal Cylla scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds and UNC Wilmington held off a late East Carolina rally to post a 95-86 victory on Tuesday night.

The Seahawks, playing their fourth game in five days, won their second in a row and reached the .500 mark for the first time this season at 4-4. The Pirates dropped their second straight and stand an identical 4-4.

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The game marked the 66th meeting between the North Carolina rivals. The Seahawks now lead the series 37-29, with wins in 10 of the last 11 meetings.

Cylla hit a 3 with 12:34 left to put UNCW up by 21, 64-43, but K.J. Davis dunked and added a free throw and Jayden Gardner added a layup with 1:04 left to cut the deficit to 88-81, but the Pirates could get no closer.

Kai Toews finished with a career-high 16 points and 10 assists for the Seahawks, who have now won two straight. Ty Gadsden and Jaylen Fornes each added 15 points.

Gardner finished with a season-high 30 point for ECU. The freshman had 28 points in a 76-64 win over Prairie View A&M last week.