Were it not for a 19-point second half by Marshall Plumlee and a propensity to foul, UNC Wilmington may have been able to deliver what would have been Duke’s third first-round NCAA tournament exit in five years when the teams met in March. Making their first appearance in the Big Dance in 10 years, the No. 13 seed Seahawks gave the No. 4 seed Blue Devils all they could handle. They held a three-point halftime lead before the defense succumbed, allowing 53 points in the final 20 minutes of an eventual eight-point loss that saw three UNCW players foul out.
UNC Wilmington looks poised to repeat in CAA and return to NCAAs
