Colonial Athletic Association Tournament: No. 1 UNC-Wilmington advanced to the championship game for the fifth time in seven years with a 69-54 semifinal win over No. 5 Northeastern. The Seahawks (24-7) dominated the first half and held off runs by the Huskies (19-11) in the second half to get the win, out-rebounding the Huskies 50-34. T.J. Carter led four Seahawks in double figures with 15 points, while Jose Juan Barea led Northeastern with 17.
No. 3 Hofstra will be their opponent in the championship, as the Pride held No. 2 George Mason to 17 percent shooting in the second half en route to a 58-29 win. Carlos Rivera scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Loren Stokes scored 20 to lead Hofstra (24-5). George Mason (23-7) was led by Will Thomas with 17 points.
With less than a minute remaining in the Hofstra/George Mason game, Stokes was guarded by George Mason’s Tony Skinn and went down near midcourt and did not get up for a while. It was away from where the ball was, and television replays showed nothing conclusive happening because Stokes and Skinn were screened out by other players in every angle available. Television station WECT (Channel 6) in Wilmington, NC had another angle of the play, and replays showed that Skinn delivered a punch with his right hand to Stokes’ groin.
CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager said he had been made aware that this footage existed, and said the conference will likely review it later. [3/05/06]
