By Andy Walter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Becoming a Cinderella team is hard work.

Because Delaware was just the fifth seed in the CAA Tournament, that meant the Blue Hens had to beat three higher-seeded squads to win the crown.

In this case, that Delaware had to topple the numbers four, one and two seeds — who also happened to be the league co-champions.

But somehow, the Hens pulled it off.

Scoring the final points on a memorable night, Delaware battled past No. 2 UNCW, 59-55, to win the CAA crown and earn the program’s sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Hens (22-12), who won their first league crown since 2014, will find out on Sunday when the NCAA bracket is revealed but nobody was thinking about that when the game ended.

Delaware’s players and coached stormed onto the court and mobbed each other mid-court after the Seahawks missed a three-pointer and the final horn sounded in the Entertainment and Sports Arena.

With Gov. John Carney among those looking on looking on and taking pictures, the Hens donned their championship hats and t-shirts before hoisting the trophy and cutting down the nets.

“We needed to become a tougher basketball team and we became a very tough team,” UD coach Martin Ingelsby told the happy throng of Delaware fans in the arena. “We had a great belief in each other and in our system and how we play. I’m really, really proud of these guys.”

Delaware is the first CAA program to beat three higher-seeded teams in the tourney since 1993.

“We earned the title,” Ingelsby said about the accomplishment. “The two teams we beat (Towson and UNCW) were regular-season champions. It says a lot about our team, to come down here on a neutral court and get it done.

“It makes it even more enjoyable knowing that you went through the best of the best to get it done.””

Freshman Jyare Davis, who finished with a team-high 18 points and was named the tournament’s Outstanding Player, gave Delaware the lead for good at 56-55 when he hit a short jumper with 59 seconds left.

“A lot of people counted us out,” said Davis, a Newark native, who was also the CAA Rookie of the Year. “But look now.

“I had coaches and teammates who believed in me and trusted me,” said the former Sanford School standout. “I think that really did mean the world to me. There’s nothing more I love than just being out here with them and playing basketball. It’s something special to have a group of guys who really believe in you.

“There’s an NCAA Tournament berth on the line and he’s calling my number.”

Andrew Carr (17 points, 12 rebounds) made one of two foul shots with 14.5 seconds left. But Ebby Asamoah grabbed the offensive rebound on the miss, was fouled and hit both free throws to seal the victory with 11.1 seconds on the clock.

UNCW missed its final four shots from the floor.

“Man, I willed that to happen,” Asamoah said about grabbing the rebound. “I was not going to let that rebound go away for anything — for anything. We needed it so bad.

“I knew if I hit these, we win,” he said about the two foul shots, which were his only points of the night. “I practice my free throws all the time. I was sure. I knew they were going in.”

The Seahawks, who beat Delaware twice during the regular season, threatened to pull away when they opened up a 37-30 early in the first half. But the Hens kept it close, twice pulling with just one in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Delaware trailed 34-30 at halftime. The Hens led only once in the half, at 19-17 on a driving layup by Ryan Allen (10 points) but the contest was also tied six times in the opening 20 minutes.

The Hens came into the tourney stuck in a three-game losing streak and left it riding a three-game winning streak.

“I’m just lost for words, I’m not going to lie,” said senior guard Kevin Anderson. “Coming here five years ago ... where we were at and where we’re at now. I don’t know what to say.

“I’ve telling Coach ever since freshman year, ‘I’m going to get you one. I’m going to get you one.’ I finally got him one. I’m just happy now, I’m good.”

Free throws

Sophomore guard Jameer Nelson, Jr. added 10 points for Delaware. ... Anderson and Carr joined Davis on the all-tourney team. ... Delaware is the first team to hold three teams under 50 points in the CAA tournament since 2009. ... The Hens’ 59-point total matched the lowest for a winning team in the last 18 title games. ... The Hens were playing in their eighth conference title game since 1992 and are now 6-2 in title games. .... Delaware has won conference championships in three different leagues — North Atlantic, America East and CAA. ... The Hens were 0-5 all-time against UNCW in the CAA tourney but were facing each other for only the second time since 2008.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter@DSNSports.