CHARLESTON, S.C. - It's one down, two to go as the UNCW men's basketball team seeks its 10th in-season tournament championship this weekend at the Charleston Classic.
The Seahawks, who stunned defending NIT champion Penn State on Thursday, face ACC member Miami today at 3 p.m. in the semifinals of the eight-team event at Carolina First Arena.
UNCW used the long ball, hitting 10-of-16 three-pointers, to send the Nittany Lions into the loser's bracket of the tourney. South Carolina and South Florida tangle in the other side of the bracket, with the two winners playing Sunday at 6 p.m. for the title.
"We made some big strides today and look forward to playing Miami," said Benny Moss, UNCW's fourth-year coach. "Our players came together for 40 minutes against Penn State. It will take the same type of effort to get past Miami.
"Miami is a very good basketball team that is well coached. This type of competiton will help us get ready for the rigors of CAA play."
Thursday marked the first time Moss has had his entire team at his disposal after point guard Chad Tomko missed the season opener vs. Appalachian State and shot-blocking center John Fields served a one-game suspension vs. George Washington.
In three games, the Seahawks have had three different leading scorers. UNCW used a balanced attack in Thursday's surprise over the Nittany Lions, with seven players scoring at least seven points and six making at least one trifecta.
Friday's matchup with the Hurricanes will be a reunion of sorts for UofM coach Frank Haith and athletic trainer Wes Brown. Haith was on former UNCW coach Kevin Eastman's staff and Brown worked with the Seahawks as well before moving to South Florida.
