Howard defeats UNC Wilmington 66-67
Howard Edges UNC Wilmington in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown
In a back-and-forth battle at Trask Coliseum, visiting Howard University emerged victorious, outlasting host UNC Wilmington 67-66 in a non-conference matchup.
The primary storyline of the evening was one of thrills and spills. With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Howard trailed by nine points, but they would not be silenced. The Bison pushed their way back into contention with a series of clutch baskets, ultimately forcing the Blue Devils to come away empty-handed.
One key performer stood out for Howard: [No individual player stats provided]. Despite being underappreciated, this student-athlete played a crucial role in securing the win for their team.
Statistically speaking, both teams struggled from beyond the arc. Howard managed to hit on 44% of its three-point attempts, while UNC Wilmington shot just 20%. The Bison took advantage of these struggles by dominating in free throw shooting, with an impressive 83% clip.
Another area where the two teams diverged was in rebounding. Howard snatched up more than twice as many boards as UNC Wilmington, both on offense and defense. This disparity proved significant, as it allowed the visitors to capitalize on second-chance opportunities and further stretch the Blue Devils' lead.
Advanced statistics revealed a marked difference between the teams in terms of efficiency. Howard's eFG% was nearly 6 percentage points higher than that of their opponents, while UNC Wilmington struggled with an eFG% of just 42.6%.
The game itself served as a microcosm for the broader landscape of college basketball. A high-stakes matchup pitting two mid-majors against one another, the outcome ultimately came down to a single point.
In the end, it was Howard's ability to weather the storm and stay focused on their objective that proved decisive. The Bison's triumph marked an exciting moment in what promises to be a competitive season for both teams.