UNCG Men’s Basketball and Mercer Battle for a Saturday SoCon Showdown
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team hosts the Mercer Bears on Saturday during its second game of a four-game home stand with a tip off at 4:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Bears enter the contest 9-11 overall and 2-5 in SoCon play, while the Spartans sport a 12-8 overall record and 6-1 in conference play.
GAME INFO
Where: Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Saturday, January 21
Time: 4 p.m.
Promotion: The first 500 students will receive a FREE UNCG dad hat.
WATCH (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
UNCG extended its win streak with a 70-60 victory over The Citadel on Thursday at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Spartans have won nine of the last 12 games.
Three from UNCG scored double digits in the win, including a game-high 19 points from Keyshaun Langley.
Langley’s nine rebounds was also a game high.
Keondre Kennedy had 11 points, while Dante Treacy chipped in 10 points.
Bas Leyte tallied eight points and seven rebounds.
UNCG had 20 bench points, while The Citadel had 11 and the Spartans dropped 22 points off turnovers, compared to the Bulldogs’ 10 points.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG is leading the conference in field goal percentage defense (40.0), scoring defense (64.7), three point percentage defense (30.9), and turnover margin (1.9).
Among the nation, the Spartans are 35th in field goal percentage defense, 60th in scoring defense, 72nd in free throw percentage and three point percentage defense, 74th in defensive rebounds per game, 77th in turnover margin, and 78th in assist/turnover ratio and assists per game.
In the nation, Kobe Langley is 42nd in assist/turnover ratio (2.48), 47th in steals (38), and 67th in steals per game (1.90).
His twin brother, Keyshaun Langley is also ranked in the nation: 26th in total three-point field goals made and three point percentage (42.3), 46th in three pointers per game (2.80), 65th in three point attempts (132), 74th in steals (35).
The Spartans are outscoring opponents, 71.5-64.7, and outrebounding their foes 36.8-34.2.
Keyshaun (14.3), Keondre Kennedy (13.5), and Brown-Jones (10.9) are leading the Spartans in points per game.
Kennedy (6.6) and Abdulsalam (6.4) are leading the team in rebounds per game.
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 28 victories with the Spartans.
· Kennedy scored his 1,000 career point during the first half in a 88-80 victory against Furman on Jan. 14 in Greenville, S.C.
· Keyshaun is nine points shy of joining the 1,000-point club, with his career total of 991.
SCOUTING MERCER
Mercer has won the last two games, defeating VMI and ETSU.
Among the nation, the Bears are 45th in turnovers per game (11.4), 49th in assist/turnover ratio (1.30), 80th in field goal percentage (46.4), 86th in assists per game (14.7), and 89th in three point percentage (35.8).
Jalyn McCreary is 26th in the nation in field goals (135), and 46th in field goal percentage (56.7).
McCreary is averaging 14.45 points to lead the team, while Kamar Robertson is second with 12.44 points per game.
McCreary is also pacing the team with 5.35 rebounds per game and David Craig is second with 4.94 boards per game.
Robertson has totaled 22 steals, while McCreary has 12 blocks.
Mercer is outscoring opponents 71.2-69.0 and outrebounding them 33.9-32.6.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Spartans continue their four-game homestand hosting VMI (Jan. 25) and Furman (Jan. 29).
On Jan. 21, it is Scout Night. Scouts will receive free admission as well as a free patch. UNCG also will welcome back alumni.
SERIES HISTORY
· UNCG leads the all-time series, 11-9
· Mercer won both games last season, 58-49 (Jan. 15), and 73-64 (Feb. 13).
· Prior to those two games, the Spartans were on a seven-game win streak against the Bears dating back to the 2018-19 season.
Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro