UNCG Men’s Basketball Dominates Second Half to Defeat WCU, 72-47
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Four from the UNC Greensboro’s (UNCG) men’s basketball team reached double figures, as the Spartans opened Southern Conference (SoCon) play with a dominating 72-47 victory against Western Carolina (WCU) on Thursday at the Ramsey Center.
Mikeal Brown-Jones paced the Spartans with 19 points, while Bas Leyte had 11 points and Keondre Kennedy and Kobe Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) each chipped in 10 points. Kennedy also contributed 11 rebounds, for UNCG’s only double-double of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western Carolina began the game with a three-pointer less than two minutes into the game, 3-0. UNCG was quick to respond for its first lead of the game following a basket from Bas Leyte and two free throws and a layup from Mohammed Abdulsalam, 6-3. The Catamounts were quick to tie the game for the second time, 6-6. Brown-Jones made his 10th dunk of the season at 11:35, for a two-point advantage, 15-13, the Spartans’ 22nd slam of the year. UNCG went on a six-point run, to take a four-point lead, 25-21, and the Catamounts did not see a lead the remainder of the frame. Western Carolina tied the game at 27, for the seventh time but UNCG finished the half with a 7-3 run to lead 34-30.
WCU cut the deficit to two, 34-32, with the first bucket of the second half. UNCG’s 48.15-percent in field goals made and 57.14-percent in three-pointers made outmatched Western Carolina’s second half numbers (9.68-percent FGM, 6.67-percent 3PM). The Spartans went on a 13-0 run in five minutes, 52-35, including three-straight three-pointers. Following a layup from Abdulsalam with 1:37 remaining, the Spartans had their largest lead, 71-44. The Catamounts scored their only three pointer in the frame at 1:07, before Abdulsalam made a free throw with 43-seconds left to hold a 25-point margin for the win, 72-47.
BY THE NUMBERS
This was the 10th game this season, where the Spartans led at the half.
UNCG has now totaled 23 dunks this season, with Brown-Jones leading the way with 11.
This was Kennedy’s third double-double of his career.
This was the seventh game this season with four or more Spartans scoring double-digit points. (WCU, Warren Wilson, Marshall, SFA, Hofstra, Miami, JWU)
UNCG outrebounded WCU 44-35.
This was the fifth game this season with 40 or more rebounds.
UNCG outscored WCU, 32-9, in points off the bench, and 14-3 in second-chance points.
Abdulsalam and Brown-Jones each had eight rebounds.
This was the fourth game with a double-figure margin to win.
RECORDS
UNCG: 7-7, 1-0 SoCon
WCU: 7-7, 0-1 SoCon
UP NEXT
UNCG continues SoCon play as it travels to Spartanburg, South Carolina to face Wofford on Saturday, December 31 with a tip-off at 2 p.m. to conclude 2022 play.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro