Nelson Jr.’s 39 Lead Men’s Basketball to Senior Day Victory Against UNCW

Saturday, February 18

Newark, Del.

4 p.m.

University of Delaware

14-15,6-10CAA

UNCW

21-8,11-5CAA

UNCW

Delaware

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Nelson Jr.’s 39 Lead Men’s Basketball to Senior Day Victory Against UNCW

2/18/2023 6:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – Jameer Nelson Jr. scored a career-high 39 on 13-of-21 shooting, including 5-for-8 from deep as Delaware men's basketball (14-15, 6-10 CAA) knocked off one of the CAA's top teams, UNCW (21-8, 7-5), in Newark on Saturday. The Blue Hens celebrated seniors Aleks Novakovich, LJ Owens, and Fred Rullo IV prior to the 75-66 victory.

It was a fairly back-and-forth game before the Hens ripped an 8-0 run over 2:14 to pull ahead 27-17 with 7:29 left in the opening frame. UNCW would chip the deficit down to five at one point, before UD ran into the break with a 42-29 lead.

The 42 first-half points are tied for the most in a first half this season. Nelson Jr. scored 22 points in the first half, the only player on Delaware to score more than four.

Delaware shot a scorching 58.3 percent (14-for-24) and an equally as scorching 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from three. The visitors shot 50-percent overall, but just 1-for-5 from long range. The Hens converted 10 Seahawks turnovers into 19 points.

Delaware worked the lead up to 20 points before UNCW sliced into it with six-unanswered points into the under-16 media timeout. The Seahawks fought closer, but Delaware continued to lead for the remainder of the game. Nelson Jr.'s 39 points are the most by any player under Martin Ingelsby and most since Davon Usher dropped 42 against Charleston on Feb. 5, 2014.

Delaware had one of its best shooting outings of the season, shooting 52-percent overall and 47.1 percent from three compared to 46.1and 41.2, respectively, for the visitors.

Every Blue Hen who appeared in the contest recorded a point. Johnny McCoy posted a season-best nine points off the bench. Christian Ray led all players with nine rebounds, seven coming in the second half.

UD closed out the season in front of 2,628 fans, making it the fifth-straight game above 2,400 and sixth straight with at least 2,000.

Delaware concludes the regular season with a pair of road games in North Carolina.