WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Six players scored in double figures for UNCW (6-1) as the Seahawks shot 55 percent from the floor during an 87-57 victory over the Navy men's basketball team (4-4), Friday afternoon at Trask Coliseum in Wilmington, N.C.

It was a 6-4 UNCW lead when the Seahawks scored 11 of the next 13 points to take a 17-6 advantage eight minutes into the game.  UNCW tallied each of its first 12 points of the game in the paint as it continually sent the ball inside during the halfcourt offense and also scored multiple baskets following an offensive board.  That margin grew to 23-8 and then 26-10 as the Mids couldn't get a shot to fall.  Navy was 5-19 from the field to that point while UNCW was 11-19.

"I thought UNCW was playing harder than us to start the game," said Navy head coach Jon Perry.  "That is something we have to work on as a program. They established the paint early in the game with Patrick Wessler (who scored six of their first 10 points), which then opened them up as we started digging on him.  And they have some really good outside shooters to complement their inside game."

UNCW, which won the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, took a 32-12 lead with less than six minutes remaining in the half and went into the locker room at intermission with a 45-19 cushion.

The Seahawks made 63 percent (17-27) of their shots from the floor, an overall mark that included a 5-10 (50%) effort from three-point land.  On the other end of the floor, Navy made 26 percent (7-27) of its field goal attempts and missed all seven of its three-point tries.  The Mids committed just seven turnovers and forced six, but UNCW held a 13-2 advantage in points after turnovers.

The margin was at least 20 points during the entire second half.

UNCW's physical makeup and style of play resembled Yale, another 2025 NCAA Tournament team Navy faced earlier this season.

"Both teams were NCAA Tournament teams last year and could be again this year," said Perry.  "They are big and strong teams.  

"UNCW just out toughed us today."

UNCW ended the game 32-58 (55.2%) from the floor, which included a 10-21 (47.6%) showing from three-point range. Conversely, Navy was held to just a 21-64 (32.8%) mark from the floor and a 5-25 (20%) effort from beyond the arc. 

The Seahawks also held a 46-26 advantage on the glass for the game.  Additionally, UNCW scored 22 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds and limited Navy to just 8 second-chance points on 14 offensive boards.

Individually, Austin Benigni led all players with 25 points while Jinwoo Kim made four three-point field goals on his way to scoring 16 points.

The Mids won't have long to rest as they will play Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at noon in their final game of the three-game Live Oak Bank Classic.