https://uncwsports.com/news/2019/12/6/me...49ers.aspx
Men's Basketball 12/6/2019 10:42:00 AM Brandon Sans
Seahawks Renew Rivalry With 49ers
WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Separated only by a four-hour drive on U.S. Route 74, old rivals UNCW and Charlotte collide early Saturday when the 49ers pay a visit to the Port City for a men's basketball matinee at Trask Coliseum.
The Seahawks (5-5) and 49ers (3-4) meet for the first time since Nov. 25, 1995, in a 2 p.m. start. The series originated back in 1964 and the two clubs are battling for only the sixth time in Wilmington.
The Seahawks return to their home floor following a pair of road losses at Boise State and Stanford over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Cardinal handed the Seahawks a 72-54 setback last Sunday in UNCW's last outing. Sophomore guard Jaylen Sims and sophomore forward Marten Linssen scored 12 points apiece for UNCW, which outscored Stanford, 35-34, in the second half.
A Charlotte, N.C., native, Sims is fresh off being named to the Colonial Athletic Association's weekly Honor Roll after averaging 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games last week. He shot a blistering 52.6 percent from three-point range.
UNCW hopes to welcome back sophomore guard Ty Gadsden, sidelined the first 10 games of the year after off-season surgery. Gadsden is the club's top returning scorer (11.5 ppg) and connected on 47.5 percent of his long-range shots one year ago, the third best single-season mark in the program's history.
Charlotte, which owns wins over Davidson and Wake Forest, looks to regroup following its first home loss of the season. UNC Asheville placed all five starters in double figures in an 83-75 victory over the 49ers on Tuesday night in the Queen City.
Redshirt junior guard Jordan Sheppard, an Oklahoma transfer, led the 49ers with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Sophomore guard Cooper Robb delivered 14 points off the bench and drained a pair of three-pointers in the stinging loss.
Saturday's contest will be carried over the air on The Breeze, 95.9 FM, with play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro and color analyst Marty Feurer providing the call. The game may be heard worldwide on the station's website,
http://www.959thebreeze.com. Video will also be provided on FloHoops for a monthly/annual subscription at
http://www.FloHoops.com.
Saturday's game begins a month-long 'Sock Exchange' initiative by the Seahawks. Fans donating a pair of new closed-toed youth shoes at any men's or women's basketball home game in December will receive a pair of navy logo socks.
Seahawk fans donated more than 300 pairs of shoes last year and they were distributed to three area elementary schools for students in need. Shoes may be donated at the following games this month: MBB vs. Charlotte (Dec. 7), MBB vs. Mercer (Dec. 16), WBB vs. Coastal Carolina (Dec. 8) and WBB vs. Winthrop (Dec. 17).
Seahawk Storylines
* Charlotte leads the all-time series by a 10-4 margin, including a 4-1 advantage at Trask Coliseum.
* UNCW faces eight opponents with head coaches in their first or second year: Johnson & Wales, Emory & Henry, Cleveland State, FIU, Charlotte, Vanderbilt, William & Mary, and Elon.
* The Seahawks are playing their second game in December. After opening the campaign with nine games in the first month of the season, UNCW eyes six games this month - two at home and four on the road.
* Three Seahawks hail from the Queen City. Freshman Jake Boggs (Carmel Christian), sophomore Jaylen Sims (United Faith Christian) and junior Ty Gadsden (Believe Prep/Vincennes) are very familiar with the Charlotte program.
* The Seahawks have faced nine opponents from Conference USA and fashioned a 31-47 (.397) record against the group.
* UNCW is taking on its third Charlotte-area opponent this season. The Seahawks cruised past Johnson & Wales, 103-83, in the season opener on Nov. 5 before suffering an 87-49 defeat at Davidson on Nov. 16 at Belk Arena.
* The Seahawks stand 4-1 at home following wins over Johnson & Wales, Campbell, N.C. Wesleyan and Emory & Henry and a loss to No. 9 North Carolina.
* The Seahawks are one of the youngest teams in the NCAA Division I ranks, with three freshmen, five sophomores and four juniors expected to suit up Saturday. UNCW is one of just seven teams in DI with no true seniors on its roster (UNCW, CSU Bakersfield, Mount St. Mary's, Richmond, Santa Clara, Stony Brook, USC Upstate).