Patrick Wessler scored 24 points to lead the UNC Wilmington Seahawks and Tahlan Pettway secured the victory with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining as the Seahawks defeated the East Carolina Pirates 78-75 on Saturday

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Patrick Wessler scored 24 points and Tahlan Pettway sealed the victory with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining as UNC Wilmington defeated East Carolina 78-75 on Saturday.

Wessler also had 18 rebounds for the Seahawks (2-0). C.J. Luster II scored 21 points while shooting 6 for 10 (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds. Pettway had 15 points and shot 6 for 13, including 3 for 7 from beyond the arc.

Cian Medley led the way for the Pirates (1-1) with 23 points, 12 assists and three steals. Trevor Best added 22 points for East Carolina. Kaseem Watson finished with 11 points.

Luster scored 11 points in the first half and UNC Wilmington went into the break trailing 33-31. Wessler scored 16 points in the second half. UNC Wilmington outscored East Carolina by five points over the final half.

Both teams play again on Wednesday. UNC Wilmington hosts Kent State and East Carolina hosts N.C. A & T.