WILMINGTON, N.C. – Senior guard Halston Lane scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the first half and UNC Wilmington coasted to a 71-48 victory over Elon before 5,803 in a New Year's Eve men's basketball matinee Friday at Trask Coliseum.
The Seahawks improved to 6-4 with a victory in their final non-conference game of the season while the Phoenix dropped their fifth straight to fall to 2-10.
Lane drained 5-of-7 shots in the first half and connected on all three of his second-half attempts for his game-high total. Junior forward Taylor Lay added 11 points and junior forward Mitch Laue contributed eight points and nine rebounds.
Sophomore guard Montell Watson scored 12 points and junior guard Scottie Rice had 10 for the Phoenix, who shot just 32.6 percent from the floor and only 48.3 percent at the free throw line. Elon converted 14-of-29 at the charity stripe, including 6-of-18 in the opening period.
After building a 37-20 bulge at the break, the Seahawks kept the momentum in the final period. Lane and Lay combined for the first two baskets of the second half to increase the lead to 41-20 and the advantage ballooned to 23 points, 60-37, on a layup by reserve Dejan Grkovic.
With Lane leading the way, the Seahawks reversed an early 9-0 deficit to grab control. Colin Wyatt hit the first of two free throws as the Phoenix scored the first nine points of the contest, capped by a Wyatt free throw with 15:50 left in the first half.
But Lane caught fire and so did the Seahawks, who outscored Elon, 37-11, the rest of the way for a 37-20 halftime cushion. Lane started a 14-0 run with a 3-pointer from the left wing at 15:33 and Lay's bucket at 10:24 gave UNCW the lead for good at 14-9.
UNCW scored 17 of the last 18 points in the first half to put the game out of reach early. Lane scored eight of the points and the Seahawks cranked up the defense, limiting the Phoenix to one field goal over the final 6:07.
Elon returns to action on Monday at Alumni Gym against Bluefield in a 7 p.m. game. The Seahawks return to conference play Monday with a 7 p.m. matchup at James Madison.
–ELON– Game Box Score
