UNCG Men’s Basketball Travels to VMI for Midweek Contest
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team hits the road to face VMI during a midweek Southern Conference (SoCon) contest with a tipoff at 7:00 p.m. inside Cameron Hall.
GAME INFO
Where: Cameron Hall | Lexington, Va.
When: Wednesday, January 11
Time: 7 p.m.
WATCH (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
In a battle until the end, the Spartans fell to SoCon foe Samford Saturday afternoon, 70-68, at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Three Spartans scored double figures, while Keondre Kennedy earned UNCG’s only double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
This was Kennedy’s fourth double-double of his career.
Kennedy and Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) led the team with 16 points.
The Spartans outscored the Bulldogs in second-chance points, 19-2, points off turnovers, 12-7, and points in the paint, 18-16.
The Bulldogs held the advantage in field goal percentage (50.0 – 38.9) and three-point percentage (48.4 – 35.7).
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG is leading the conference in scoring defense (64.5), and field goal percentage defense (39.5).
Among the nation, the Spartans are 35th in field goal percentage defense, 62nd in scoring defense, 75th in defensive rebounds per game (27.06), 76th in assist/turnover ratio (1.21) and assists per game (15.1), and 78th in three-point percentage defense (30.8).
The 3-1 start to the SoCon slate is the best since the 2018-19 season, when the Spartans went 3-1 to start conference play.
In the nation, Kobe Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) is 30th in assist/turnover ratio (2.79).
His twin brother, Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) is also ranked in the nation: 34th in total three-point field goals made (46), 52nd in three point attempts (114) and three point percentage (40.4), and 60th in three pointers per game (2.71).
The Spartans are outscoring opponents, 70.5-64.5, and outrebounding foes 37.2-34.8.
Kennedy (13.5), Keyshaun (12.8), and Brown-Jones (11.2) are leading the Spartans in points per game.
Kennedy (7.1) and Abdulsalam (6.3) are leading the team in rebounds per game.
JONES REACHING MILESTONES
· Head Coach Mike Jones earned his 200th career win as a head coach on Wednesday, January 4 with the win over Chattanooga at the Greensboro Coliseum.
· He had 174 wins with Radford and currently has 26 victories with the Spartans.
SCOUTING VMI
VMI is coming off six-straight losses, including a most recent 78-85 loss to Chattanooga.
The Keydets are leading the conference in free throw percentage (76.1) and three-point percentage (39.2).
In the nation, they are fifth in three pointers per game (10.9), 12th in three-point percentage (39.2), 15th in three-point attempts per game (27.8), and 24th in free throw percentage (76.1).
Sean Conway is second in the SoCon and 18th in the nation in three-point percentage (45.0).
Conway and Asher Wood are leading the team with an average of 14.6 points per game.
Conway is also leading the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.
He is also 40th in total three-point field goals made (45).
The Keydets are averaging 74.5 points per game.
They are outrebounding opponents 35.9-33.7 per game.
VMI was voted to finish last in the SoCon Coaches Preseason and Media Polls.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
UNCG will then travel to Greenville, S.C. to battle preseason favorites, the Furman Paladins on Saturday, January 14 at 4 p.m.
The Spartans then come home for a four-game homestand, hosting The Citadel (Jan. 19), Mercer (Jan. 21), VMI (Jan. 25), and Furman (Jan. 29).
On Jan. 19 vs. The Citadel, UNCG will host its Blue Out. All fans are encouraged to wear blue. The first 1000 students will receive a free t-shirt.
On Jan. 21, it is Scout Night. Scouts will receive free admission as well as a free patch.
SERIES HISTORY
· UNCG is 21-10 all-time over VMI.
· The Spartans and Keydets split the series last season.
· UNCG won on January 8, 2022, 72-56 and then fell on February 2, 65-76.
· From 2016-21 UNCG won nine-straight games against VMI.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro