Eagles ready for challenging conference schedule
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake Tech men's basketball travels to Wilmington on Wednesdsay evening to take on Cape Fear for their second conference game of the season. The Sea Devils are 6-3 on the season and yet to play a Region 10 game. The Eagles are 5-1 in true road games this season, so they should be up for the challenge in a difficult road environment at the Schwartz Athletic Center. Fans can watch that game on Cape Fear's YouTube channel.
The Eagles have played 15 of their 28 scheduled regular season contests, compiling nine wins to this point. Six of those wins came consecutively, as the team found their stride mid-November and carried that momentum into their first Region 10 contest on the road against Richard Bland. A 96-86 win in double overtime on December 3 has the team in first place in the Region 10 standings, with most teams yet to begin their conference schedule.
"The first two months of the season are crucial for a team to find their identity," head coach Adam Wainwright said. "And although it's not a complete picture yet, I'm pleased with how our guys have come together to this point. We've got a good mix of players that play hard and bring a lot to the table. Now, with just conference games remaining on our schedule, it's time to find that next gear. It starts on Wednesday night with a tough road game ahead of us, but I'm confident our guys are prepared to compete."
Sophomore guard Andrew Navarro is the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points per game, which is sixth-best among Region 10 Division I players. The Jacksonville, N.C. native has scored in double figures for 11-straight games, and scored a career-high 36 points in the win over Richard Bland. Behind Navarro in scoring is Saiquone Harris (14.1), a transfer from Caldwell Tech. Harris has managed to get to the free throw line more than any of his teammates, with 50 of his 141 total points coming from the charity stripe. He is shooting 74.6% from the line.
"Andrew and Saiquone have been our top two scorers, but they can create in different ways," Wainwright said. "And if you go up and down our lineup, everyone on our team can score. We are not a one-dimensional offense by any means. Our best offensive nights come when we protect the basketball, take smart shots, and knock down our free throws."
Charles Matheka has been the team's main facilitator, averaging 4.2 assists per game over 13 games and 12 starts at point guard. Matheka has taken on an elevated role as a sophomore after making just three starts as a freshman. Tequan Holley is the only other player averaging over 10 points per game for the Eagles, currently at 11.1. He makes up the Wake Tech front court alongside freshman Jaiden Shephard, who leads the team in rebounding (8.0).
Freshman forward BJ Solomon has been a valuable piece in the Wake Tech rotation, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He ranks fifth in Region 10 in field goal percentage (61.2%). He's also a solid rim protector, tallying 1.1 blocks per game. As a team, the Eagles are first in Region 10 Division I with 5.4 blocks per game.
After Wednesday's game at Cape Fear, the Eagles return home Saturday to take on Caldwell Tech. That game will tip off at 3:00 and be streamed live on the Wake Tech Eagles YouTube channel.