UNC Wilmington defeats Valparaiso 70-73

UNC Wilmington Edges Valparaiso in Thrilling Comeback Victory

The Athletics-Recreation Center was abuzz on Saturday night as the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) visiting team erased a 9-point halftime deficit to defeat host Valparaiso, 73-70.

In a game that saw both teams dig deep into their arsenals, Valparaiso initially took control, leading by as many as 12 points in the first half. However, UNCW's offense began to find its rhythm in the second stanza, outscoring the Crusaders 42-30 to take a 7-point lead with just over a minute remaining.

Trailing by 3 with 10 seconds left, Valparaiso's JT Pettigrew sank two free throws to cut the deficit to one. On the ensuing possession, UNCW's Nolan Hodge connected on a deep three-pointer to seal the win for his team.

The comeback victory marked the first of the season for UNCW (6-5), while Valparaiso dropped its third straight game. The Crusaders fell to 4-7 overall.

Pettigrew paced Valparaiso with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and a single assist. Rakim Chaney chipped in 5 points, 6 rebounds, and three assists for the home team.

Hodge led UNCW with 28 points, including four three-pointers. Gavin Walsh added 11 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.

The game saw both teams struggling from beyond the arc, with Valparaiso shooting just 24 percent from three-point range and UNCW connecting on a modest 27.0%. However, Hodge's three-point barrage proved to be the difference-maker, as he accounted for nearly half of his team's total points.

In the end, it was UNCW's collective effort that propelled them to victory, as they outrebounded Valparaiso by eight and forced a season-high 14 turnovers.