WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Marcus Thornton scored 19 points and collected a key rebound at the buzzer as William & Mary fended off a late rally and held on to defeat North Carolina-Wilmington 54-50 on Wednesday night.

The Tribe (14-8, 6-3 Colonial Athletic Association) had led much of the game and were up by 13, 40-27, when NC-Wilmington (5-18, 0-9) battled back to within 53-50.

Tanner Milson scored all three of his 3-pointers and a jumper during the surge, scoring all 11 of his points in a 2-minute span. Cedrick Williams added two buckets as the Seahawks were hoping to end a losing skid that now stretches 13 games back into December.

But Williams missed point-blank with 10 seconds left after a Shane Reybold baby hook cut the gap to three. After the Tribe's Brandon Britt made 1 of 2 free throws, Milson missed a 3-pointer in the final second, Thornton controlling the rebound.