UNCG Men’s Basketball’s HC Mike Jones Earns 200th Career Win in 73-61 Victory Over Chattanooga
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team held the lead for just about the entire game in a 73-61 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday night at the Greensboro Coliseum in the Spartans’ conference home opener.
This is the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Spartans are starting 3-0 in Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
Along with a perfect start to the SoCon play, Head Coach Mike Jones also enjoyed celebrating his 200th career win as a head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG held the lead until Chattanooga tied the score at 21 with 7:43 remaining in the first half. The Mocs’ one-point advantage with a free throw at 7:41, lasted for 16 seconds, before the Spartans went on an 8-0 run to take back the lead, 29-22, which they held for the remainder of the game. The run included three pointers from Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) and Keondre Kennedy, and a jumper from Mikeal Brown-Jones.
Chattanooga cut the deficit to three, 30-33, with 2:20 left in the half. UNCG continued its offensive output and grew its lead to seven, following two free throws from Keyshaun Langley and field goal from Mohammed Abdulsalam, 37-30.
The Mocs opened the second half with an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to one, 38-39. UNCG fought back as the two teams traded baskets. Three straight baskets from the Spartans in a minute and four seconds expanded its lead to nine, 50-41, right before a 7-3 run for UNCG. The drive included its largest lead of the game, 57-44, a 13-point advantage.
An 8-1 run for Chattanooga closed the gap to six, 52-58, with 7:09 left in the frame. The Spartans held the Mocs scoreless for four minutes and 41 seconds, until Jamaal Walker broke the silence with a free throw. Brown-Jones made another ESPN Top-10 worthy dunk with 1:14 left on the clock for a 12-point lead, 71-59, as Chattanooga made its final basket with 58 seconds left and UNCG’s Dante Treacy closed the game with two made free throws, 73-61.
From senior Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) on the 3-0 start
“Being 3-0 gives us great confidence going into the rest of the season. It gives us a good head start, we just have to keep it up and play together.”
Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) on Head Coach Jones’ 200th win
“Coach is a great guy; a great coach and we just want to keep winning games for him. I am excited that we had a huge win for him for the 200th. We are just trying to keep winning games.”
BY THE NUMBERS
This was the 12th game this season, where the Spartans led at the half.
UNCG has now totaled 25 dunks this season, with Brown-Jones leading the way with 13.
Chattanooga outrebounded UNCG 38-33.
**********This was Keyshaun Langley’s 10th game this season with double digit points.*********
He led the game with 19 points, chipping in five steals and four rebounds.
Brown-Jones was second on the team with 15 points.
Treacy was the third Spartan with double figures, scoring 10.
He added five assists for a team high.
Keondre Kennedy had nine points.
UNCG held the advantage in field goal percentage (48.2 – 36.8), three-point percentage (40.0 – 24.2), and tied the Mocs in free throw percentage (73.3).
RECORDS
UNCG: 9-7, 3-0 SoCon
Chattanooga: 9-7, 1-2 SoCon
Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) on his performance the last couple of games
“Coach talked to everyone about their roles and told me that I needed to be more of a scorer and a leader. I just come in and be myself. I score, I be a leader and make sure my teammates are good and we get the win.”
UP NEXT
The Spartans will turn around and host Samford on Saturday, January 7 with a 4 p.m. tip-off. This game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Nextstar. This game will be the Fan Appreciate Game.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro