UNC Wilmington Routs Mount Olive 101-65
UNC Wilmington opened its season with a 101-65 win over Mount Olive on Monday, with C.J. Luster II leading the way.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
UNC Wilmington beat Mount Olive 101-65 in the season opener on Monday, November 2, 2026. C.J. Luster II scored 21 points for the Seahawks, while both teams opened their seasons in the game.
Why it matters
The lopsided opening win gives UNC Wilmington an early start as it prepares for its next test. Strong early production from its guards and forwards offers an early read on the roster heading into conference play.
Luster went 7 of 14 from the field and 6 of 13 from three-point range for 21 points, while Wessler posted 14 points and 12 rebounds on 6 of 9 shooting. Mount Olive's Ananaba led all scorers for the Trojans with 15 points and Smith added 13, though the box score does not provide a season-long comparison for either side.
The players
C.J. Luster II
A guard for UNC Wilmington who led the team with 21 points in the season opener.
Patrick Wessler
A UNC Wilmington forward who scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over Mount Olive.
The details
UNC Wilmington controlled the game from start to finish, finishing with 101 points against a Mount Olive team that managed 65. Luster and Wessler led the Seahawks' attack, while Jahnathan Lamothe added 12 points.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: UNC Wilmington beats Mount Olive 101-65 in the season opener.
Saturday: UNC Wilmington visits East Carolina in its next game.
Season Trajectory
Season openers against lower-tier opponents, like Mount Olive, typically serve as tune-ups rather than tests of a program's ceiling. This 101-65 result offers only an early indication of how the Seahawks' rotation will hold up against stronger conference competition.
Fantasy managers tracking the Seahawks can note Luster's 21-point, 6-of-13 three-point night as a baseline for early-season production. The Saturday trip to East Carolina gives the same rotation its next look against a different opponent.
The takeaway
A single opening-night win says little about a team's ceiling, but UNC Wilmington's balanced scoring and rebounding show a roster with multiple options. Readers should watch how that depth holds up in Saturday's road game at East Carolina.
What happens next
UNC Wilmington visits East Carolina on Saturday, its next scheduled game.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Basketball coverage for Wilmington.
