RICHMOND, Va. -- Brett Blizzard scored 22 points and North Carolina-Wilmington used a fast start and rugged defense throughout to beat Virginia Commonwealth 66-51 Monday night in the Colonial Athletic Association championship.

The Seahawks (22-9) led 28-10 after 10 minutes and never let the Rams closer than eight again. Wilmington won its second tournament in three years, and earned only the second NCAA tournament bid in school history.

The Rams (21-11), trying to win the tournament for the first time in six years, failed to give coach Mack McCarthy his first trip to the tournament in his four seasons since coming to VCU from Chattanooga.

VCU trailed 41-26 in its hometown until Domonic Jones hit a 3-pointer, the Rams' first, with 15:49 left. The basket brought the crowd to life, as did a 13-7 run that pulled the Rams to 48-39 with 9:55 to play.

But the Seahawks rallied at both ends, getting a putback by Craig Callahan to start a 6-1 spurt that quieted the crowd and then closing out the victory with steady free-throw shooting in the final minutes.

The Seahawks held the Rams to 19-for-57 shooting, or just 33 percent, and a season-low two 3-pointers in 17 attempts. Wilmington made nine 3-pointers, six in the first 10 minutes when it built its enduring lead.

Callahan added 11 points, and Ed Williams 10 for Wilmington.

Jones paced VCU with 22 points and Josh Graham had 10. Rams scoring leader Willie Taylor was held to four points on 1-for-10 shooting.

The Seahawks, playing in the championship for the third straight year, matched their scoring total of last year's entire game in the first half when Tim Burnette hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.

The shot, Wilmington's seventh 3-pointer, gave Wilmington a 33-22 lead.

A year ago, the Seahawks lost 35-33 to George Mason in the final.

The Seahawks came out red-hot, hitting six 3-pointers in the first 10:12, including three by Blizzard. The fast start, and 2-for-16 shooting by the Rams, helped Wilmington to a 28-10 lead, but VCU forced turnovers on five consecutive possessions and closed the half on a 12-5 run.