VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, Nolan Hodge’s clutch free throws with three seconds remaining lifted UNC Wilmington to a narrow 73-70 victory over Valparaiso in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Seahawks, who trailed by nine at halftime, staged a methodical second-half comeback to escape in front of a crowd of 1,603 and improve to 10-1. Valparaiso fell to 6-4.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final seconds. With the game tied at 70, UNC Wilmington’s Christian May was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with four seconds left. May missed both, but Hodge secured the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt. The 6-foot-7 junior from Greensboro, North Carolina, calmly sank both free throws to put the Seahawks ahead for good.

Valparaiso’s last chance, a desperation three-pointer from Rakim Chaney at the buzzer, missed everything.

The game was a stark contrast of halves. Valparaiso, fueled by guard Justus McNair’s 15 first-half points, built a 40-31 lead by the break. The Beacons shot efficiently early and forced nine UNC Wilmington turnovers while committing only five themselves.

The second half belonged to the Seahawks’ resilience and Valparaiso’s offensive freeze. UNC Wilmington tightened its defense, holding the Beacons to just 30 points after halftime on 8-of-31 shooting from the field. Valparaiso’s offense, which flowed in the first half, managed only three assists as a team for the entire game.

Hodge was the engine for the Seahawks’ comeback, scoring 19 of his game-high 28 points in the second half. He finished 8 of 19 from the field and added two assists in 35 minutes. Noah Ross provided crucial support with 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UNC Wilmington.

Valparaiso was led by McNair, a junior from Joliet, Illinois, who scored all 15 of his points in the first half. JT Pettigrew added 17 points and eight rebounds, and Isaiah Barnes contributed 10 points and a block for the Beacons.

Neither team shot well. UNC Wilmington made 24 of 60 field goal attempts for 40 percent, while Valparaiso hit 23 of 65 for 35.4 percent. Both teams struggled from deep, each making six three-pointers. The difference came at the free-throw line, where the Seahawks attempted 33 shots, making 19, compared to Valparaiso’s 24 attempts and 18 makes.

A significant factor was UNC Wilmington’s work on the offensive glass. The Seahawks grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points and helping offset their 40 percent shooting. Gavin Walsh was pivotal in that effort, pulling down six offensive boards as part of his 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The win extends UNC Wilmington’s strong start to the season, with its only loss coming on the road at Kent State in November. The Seahawks will host Howard on Dec. 20. Valparaiso, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Northwestern on Tuesday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, UNC Wilmington entered with a 70.8 percent probability to win. The total score of 143 points surpassed the over/under line of 137.5.