WILMINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging UNC Wilmington squad will look to continue its dominant season when it hosts in-state foe North Carolina A&T in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup Thursday afternoon at Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks (24-4, 14-2 CAA) enter on a five-game winning streak and sit atop the conference standings. Their .857 winning percentage ranks among the nation’s best, built on a balanced attack and stout defense allowing just 67.9 points per game. A key contributor off the bench has been guard Jahnathan Lamothe, who is coming off a 17-point performance in a 73-68 road win at Campbell on Feb. 21. In the teams’ first meeting this season, a nonconference game on Dec. 29, UNC Wilmington secured an 87-78 victory in Greensboro. The visiting Aggies (11-15, 7-9) have experienced an up-and-down campaign but are riding the momentum of a 102-82 road rout of Elon on Saturday. That offensive explosion was led by guard Trent Middleton, who scored 24 points and dished out eight assists in 40 minutes. Middleton has been a volume scorer for A&T, averaging 18.4 points over his last seven games, though his production has fluctuated. The Aggies will need a similar high-efficiency afternoon from him and supporting scorers like Lewis Walker to challenge the conference leaders. For UNC Wilmington, the game represents a critical step in solidifying its position for the upcoming CAA tournament and a potential NCAA tournament at-large bid. North Carolina A&T, meanwhile, aims to build consistency and improve its seeding. The Seahawks’ depth and home-court advantage, where they are 13-1 this season, present a formidable challenge for the Aggies. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff. UNC Wilmington will host College of Charleston on Saturday, while North Carolina A&T returns home to face William & Mary.