WILMINGTON — Shykeim Phillips scored a season-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and UNC Wilmington beat Drexel 76-65 on Thursday night.
Mike Okauru added 16 points and nine rebounds for UNC Wilmington (10-20, 5-12 Colonial Athletic Association), who shot 68% (19 for 28) in the second half to finish at 53% for the game.
James Butler scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Dragons (13-17, 6-11), whose losing streak stretched to six games. Camren Wynter added 13 points.
Drexel was 5 of 14 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 34-29 lead but was 1 of 9 in the second half. The Dragons had a 40-25 rebounding advantage but had 18 turnovers that Drexel, which only had four giveaways, turned into 18 points.
Drexel defeated UNC Wilmington 71-66 on Dec. 30. UNC Wilmington finishes out the regular season against Delaware at home on Saturday.
Drexel finishes out the regular season against College of Charleston on the road on Saturday.
Jones leads UNC Asheville past High Point
HIGH POINT — Tajion Jones had 23 points, making 5 of 7 3-pointers, and UNC Asheville narrowly defeated High Point 80-76 on Thursday night.
Jones, Lavar Batts Jr. and Devon Baker combined to make six straight free throws in the final 11 seconds to secure it.
LJ Thorpe had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists for UNC Asheville (14-14, 8-9 Big South Conference), which snapped its four-game road losing streak. Baker and Batts each scored 10 points.
John-Michael Wright had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Panthers (9-21, 6-11). Denny Slay II added 14 points.
The Bulldogs leveled the season series against the Panthers. High Point defeated UNC Asheville 68-66 on Jan. 16. UNC Asheville finishes out the regular season against Campbell on the road on Saturday. High Point finishes against Winthrop on the road on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb tops Charleston Southern
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Nate Johnson had 21 points as Gardner-Webb beat Charleston Southern 83-74 on Thursday night.
Eric Jamison Jr. added 20 points for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Christian Turner had 17 points and seven assists for Gardner-Webb (14-15, 10-7 Big South Conference). Kareem Reid added 10 points and three blocks.
Phlandrous Fleming Jr. had 23 points and six rebounds for the Buccaneers (13-16, 7-10). Ty Jones tied a career high with 23 points. Nate Louis had 12 points.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs leveled the season series against the Buccaneers with the win. Charleston Southern defeated Gardner-Webb 92-83 on Jan. 25. Gardner-Webb finishes out the regular season against Radford on the road on Saturday. Charleston Southern finishes out the regular season against Presbyterian on the road on Saturday.
