WILMINGTON, N.C. — Despite committing 20 turnovers, sinking just one 3-point shot and enduring an unruly crowd Saturday night, William and Mary is back alone atop the Colonial Athletic Association.
Tribe star Marcus Thornton scored 18 points, but lesser-known forward Tom Schalk added a career-high 13 — including the winning layup — at Trask Coliseum.
Omar Prewitt had four assists and two blocks for the Tribe (15-8, 9-3 CAA), which shot 50 percent from the field to overcome its occasionally skittish ballhandling. W&M, often reliant on long-distance shooting to win, sank just 1-of-11 from outside the arc.
Craig Ponder made a 3-pointer to put UNCW up 25-23, and the Seahawks led 29-26 at halftime despite being outshot 52.6 percent to 25.7 percent in the half.
W&M pulled ahead 34-32 early in the second half on a jumper by Thornton, but the Seahawks stayed close and retook the lead 53-52 on a layup by Freddie Jackson with 2:30 left.
Schalk muscled in a putback to put the Tribe back on top 54-53 with 1:39 to go.
It looked like UNCW would regain the lead with less than 30 seconds remaining, but Thornton made a crucial defensive play. After a missed Tribe jumper, the Seahawks pulled down the rebound and quickly went the other way. Jackson drove to the hoop for a layup, but Thornton charged in front and blocked Jackson’s attempt. The ball hit off Jackson and out of bounds, giving W&M possession with 24.4 seconds left.
Thornton hit two free throws at 12.4, and UNCW’s Jordan Talley missed a 3-point shot that would have tied the game.
Ponder led the Seahawks (13-10, 8-4) with 14 points, Jackson finished with 12, and Cedrick Williams grabbed 12 rebounds.
UNCW is tied with Northeastern, which was upset in Boston by Delaware earlier Saturday, for second place.
Thornton pushed his career total to 1,955 points, moving past former CAA Players of the Year Eric Maynor of VCU and George Evans of George Mason into 14th on the CAA’s all-time list.
Schalk hit 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. He also added five rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal in 20 minutes.
A memorable sequence came in the first half. The Tribe went ahead 23-19 on a pair of technical-foul free throws by Thornton at the 3:51 mark. The near-capacity crowd was given the technical after a third object was thrown onto the court in a five-minute span.
UNCW responded after the technical with 10 straight points to take its largest lead at 29-23.
