WILMINGTON, North Carolina - UNCW's top scoring tandem of Adam Smith and Keith Rendleman keyed a late spurt as UNCW won its eighth straight over Delaware at home with an 80-75 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball matinee Monday at Trask Coliseum.

The Seahawks won their second straight and fifth in seven games to improve to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the CAA. The Blue Hens dropped their third in a row and stand 5-7 and 1-1.

Junior forward Keith Rendleman posted his sixth double double of the season and the 12th of his career with 24 points and 18 rebounds for the Seahawks. Freshman forward Cedrick Williams added 10 points, seven rebounds and a team-best three assists and sophomore guard Tanner Milson chipped in 10 points for the Seahawks.

Sophomore guard Devon Saddler, the CAA's second leading scorer, paced four Blue Hens in double digits with 22 points, but was held just three baskets after halftime. Junior forward Jamelle Hagins contributed 21, junior forward Josh Brinkley had 11 and freshman guard Jarvis Threatt scored 10 for UD.

"It was nice to hit free throws," said second-year UNCW coach Buzz Peterson. "We couldn't find the energy level on the defensive end, but give Delaware credit for that. We were concerned about foul trouble early. Free throws were the big difference. It was a good conference win for us."

The Seahawks were locked in a tight contest with the CAA rivals, but held the Blue Hens to only 32.3 percent shooting in the second half and went 26-for-30 at the free throw line to record their highest scoring output of the season and even their conference record following an 87-64 loss at VCU back on Dec. 17 in Richmond.|

With the score knotted at 40-all at intermission, the first time UNCW has been tied at halftime this season, the Blue Hens scored the first two baskets of the second period before the Seahawks rallied behind Milson, Smith and Rendleman.

The game was still tied at 48-all when Milson pumped in six straight points, including a trifecta on the right wing that gave the Seahawks some breathing room, 55-50, at 10:30. Smith then connected on a baseline jumper, KK Simmons converted both ends of a bonus situation and Rendleman hit a bank shot to push the lead to 65-58 with just over five minutes left.

After Hagins hit the second of two free throws, Rendleman delivered perhaps the biggest play of the game when Milson missed a floater and the Iron Station, N.C., swept in for the tip-in, was fouled and made the free throw to extend the lead to 70-61 at 3:06.

The Seahawks then held on down the stretch to give Peterson his second win in as many tries against UD since taking over the program last season.

In the first half, Delaware scored the first five points of the contest until the Seahawks responded with a 7-0 run on buckets by Simmons, Williams and Donte Morales.

Saddler got the Blue Hens going, however, and UD took an 18-13 advantage when the CAA's leading scorer drained a triple from the top of the key at 12:01.

No more than five points separated the two teams the remainder of the first half as Rendleman and Saddler went head-to-head. Rendleman finished the opening period with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Saddler paced the Blue Hens with 11 points and four boards in a see-saw half that featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes.

The Seahawks head back on the road on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Northeastern at Matthews Arena in Boston. The Blue Hens return home to entertain Hofstra at the Bob Carpenter Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Seahawks lead the all-time series, 16-5...UNCW stands 5-3 against UD skipper Monte Ross...The Seahawks have 17 games remaining in the regular season, including eight at Trask Coliseum...Adam Smith was held scoreless in the first half and went without a point in a half for only the second time this season...UNCW's point total was the highest since scoring 78 points at Wake Forest on Dec. 21...The Seahawks committed just five turnovers...Keith Rendleman went 10-for-11 at the charity stripe...The two teams combined for 60 points in the paint...The game had 14 ties and 13 lead changes overall...Eight freshmen played in the game for both teams.