Hey,
UNC- Wilmington's basketball team is pretty good. They won 25 games last year and are on pace to win 20+ again this year. No, they don't play the same level of competition each game as Illinois does in the Big 10, but they play in a very solid conference and their games are fun to be a part of. UNCW does not have a football team, so they're really passionate about their basketball. They even have a "homecoming" during the basketball season.
Tickets to the games are normally pretty easy to come by. $18 a person and you can get them straight from the team website.
The Official Website of University of North Carolina Wilmington Athletics
Enjoy!