Seahawks return to court after break | News

Press release from UNCW's Athletic Department:

WILMINGTON,
North Carolina – UNCW continues its climb to the .500 mark Saturday when the
Seahawks embark on their shortest road trip of the season, a 113-mile trek up
the road to bucolic Buies Creek to battle longtime rival Campbell.

The
Seahawks, 5-6, will be trying to build on a convincing 87-73 triumph nine days
ago against UNC Greensboro. Coach Buzz Peterson's club reached several season
highs in their best offensive performance in the last 47 games.

"Our guys
had some time off and they needed it," said Peterson. "We faced a difficult
early schedule, with six games on the road, and it was important for them to
get re-energized. Now it's time to get back to work with this final
non-conference game and our CAA schedule."

If
Saturday's 1 p.m. clash with the Camels is anything like the last two years, it
promises to be a dandy. Campbell won on Junard Hartley's corner buzzer-beater
two years ago in Buies Creek and center Matt Wilson returned the favor with a
tip-in as the horn sounded last year in Trask Coliseum.

"We know
it's going to be a tough game, especially after the last two years," added
Peterson. "It's always a big rivalry game, and I'm sure Coach (Robbie) Laing
will have his team ready."

The
Camels, 3-9, are also playing for the first time since the break and traveled
to the Pacific Northwest just before Christmas. Gonzaga handed CU a 74-52 loss
at the MacCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane and the Camels fell, 72-49, to
Seattle last Saturday. Campbell is going from playing the Redhawks to tackling
the Seahawks.

‘Campbell
returns three starters from last year's team, including Darren White," Peterson
said. "They have already played Iowa State, Cincinnati and Gonzaga, so they're
battled tested. I know they've had some injuries problems, so their record is
deceptive. We haven't fared well on the road this season and this is another
big challenge for us."

The
Seahawks have dropped 12 consecutive road games spanning over to last season,
including eight straight non-conference road tests. Campbell stands 3-3 at
3,095-seat Pope Convocation Center, including the dagger two years ago.

"I'm sure
some of our returning players remember that ending," Peterson said. "We
controlled most of the game and (Junard) Hartley hit that fadeaway jumper from
the corner. It was a tough way to lose, that's for sure."

Senior
forward Keith Rendleman is having a CAA Player-of-the-Year caliber season for
UNCW. The 6-8, 220-pound performer turned in his third 20-point outing in four
games with 23 points and 12 rebounds against UNCG. It was his fourth
double-double of the season and the 26^th of his successful career.

Rendleman
paces the team with 16.0 points and 9.5 rebounds each contest. Five other
players are chipping in at least five points per game for Peterson's club.

White. a
6-4, 210-pound senior guard, is averaging 20.9 ppg, but just returned to the
lineup after missing four games with a hand injury. He exploded for 28 points
in Campbell's near-miss last season in Wilmington. Sophomore guard Trey Freeman
is adding 13.2 ppg and junior guard Darian Hooker collects 11.6 ppg.

Campbell
enters the game with a four-game losing streak following losses to Robert
Morris, Rio Grande, Gonzaga and Seattle. In that span, the Camels have averaged
just 56.0 ppg after collecting 74.4 ppg over the first eight games.

While the
Seahawks and Camels are meeting for just the second time at the Pope Center,
it's the 98^th installment in the series that has UNCW on top, 56-41.
The two teams have battled in Wilmington, Buies Creek, Angier, Fayetteville and
Raleigh since the series originated in 1952.

Following
Saturday's tilt, the Seahawks begin their 18-game Colonial Athletic Association
slate on Jan. 2 with a 7 p.m. clash against Towson at Trask Coliseum.