The Seahawk

Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Courtesy: UNCW Athletics | Bob Lloyd Sophomore point guard Chad Tomko led the Seahawks with 19 points in their 104-91 win over St. Andrews. Tomko went 3-3 from beyond the new 3-point arc.

The UNCW men's basketball team opened the season with an offensive barrage as they downed St. Andrews 104-91 in an exhibition held at Trask Coliseum last week. Sophomore guard Chad Tomko paced the Seahawks with 19 points in just 22 minutes played. Head Coach Benny Moss used heavy squad rotation throughout the game to ensure all his players saw action on the floor before the regular season tips off this week.

"It's a start," he said. "We were happy to get out there and play someone other than ourselves in a practice setting."

As expected, the Seahawks started the game small, as 6-foot-5-inch forward Montez Downey was the largest Seahawk on the floor at tip-off. "With the starting line-up, I put the five guys out there who I thought had the best back-to-back practices the two days leading into the game," Moss said. "I know we were small with that line-up, but again, we rewarded the guys who had put back-to-back days leading into the game."

Tomko, the Seahawks' lone returning starter, showed no signs of discomfort behind the newly lengthened 3-point arc as he went 3-3 from outside on the night. In addition, Tomko showed the work he put into his drive in the off-season, scoring several times in the paint and at the rim.

"I'm looking for it more," he said. "I need to get to the bucket … and get to the foul line. Coach wants me to get to the foul line at least six times a game."

Freshmen Kevon Moore and Jerel Stephenson put up impressive debuts for the Seahawks, scoring 15 and 10 points respectively. Stephenson was especially tough on the defensive end, coming up with three steals in his 19 minutes.

The Seahawks also received a large boost from the return of red-shirt sophomore Daryl Felder. The guard went 5-6 from the field scoring 12 points and grabbed five offensive rebounds in a hard-nosed performance that suggests his ailing back is far behind him.

"It felt great to get back out there with my teammates, especially when I hit my first shot," he said.

One area of concern for Moss following the victory was some of the team's sloppy play in the second half. The Seahawks' largest lead (24) was eventually whittled down to as little as 13 in the second period. "I thought we really showed signs of immaturity and being a young team in that we did not stay focused for the full 40 minutes," he said.

Moss, however, is optimistic about the potential the young team has showed so far. "We showed in the first half that we can do some things well and we can be pretty good," he said.

The Seahawks tip off the regular season against Appalachian State Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Trask Coliseum.

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