UNCG Men’s Basketball Hits the Road to Battle Vanderbilt Tuesday Night
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team is coming off a season opening victory and continues its schedule with five-straight games on the road. The Spartans will first battle Vanderbilt on Tuesday, November 14 at the Historic Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee with a start time of 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST.
GAME INFO
Where: Historic Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, Tenn.
When: Tuesday, November 14 | 8 p.m. EST | 7 p.m. CST
Watch: (SEC Network+/ESPN+)
LAST SEASON FOR THE SPARTANS
The Spartans posted a 20-12 overall mark last season and 14-4 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
This was the first 20-win record under the guidance of Coach Jones.
Kobe Langley was recognized as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, while Jones was named SoCon Coach of the Year.
Twin brother, Keyshaun Langley was named to the SoCon Coaches and Media All-SoCon first teams. He also earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District first team honors.
Both Kobe and Keyshaun led the league with 57 steals.
Kobe was the SoCon leader in assist/turnover ratio (2.58).
Keyshaun’s 41.9 three-point percentage was second in the conference and 11th in the nation, while his 14.3 points per game led the team.
Mikeal Brown-Jones also returns for the Spartans, as he is one of two returners that averaged double figures last year, tallying 10.1 in his first year with the Blue & Gold.
Nationally, the team finished in the top 50 in three categories, including 21st in field goal percentage defense, 35th in scoring defense, and 49th in scoring margin.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans were voted to finish second in the SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll and fourth in the Media Poll. They received one first-place vote in the Coaches’ Poll.
Keyshaun and Brown-Jones were selected to the SoCon Preseason All-SoCon team.
The Spartans return eight from last year’s roster, while adding three transfers and three freshmen.
UNCG will travel to Chattanooga (Jan. 13) and host Western Carolina (Feb. 21) on the CBS Sports Network.
The Spartans will travel to Furman (Feb. 4) and host Samford (Feb. 8) on ESPNU.
The Spartans traveled to Dakar, Senegal and Paris, France this summer for their international trip.
UNCG is coming off a 94-78 crosstown rivalry victory over NC A&T on Friday night to open the Spartans’ season.
Donovan Atwell paced the Spartans with a career-high 18 points, while four others posted double figures.
Brown-Jones dropped 14 points and 13 rebounds, for his first-career double-double.
Kobe also registered his first-career double-double, tallying 11 points and 10 assists.
Keyshaun tallied 12 points.
SCOUTING THE COMMODORES
Vanderbilt concluded the 2022-23 season with a 22-15 overall record and an 11-7 conference mark.
The Commodores defeated Yale and Michigan in the 2023 NIT before falling to UAB in the quarterfinals to conclude their season.
Tyrin Lawrence was named to the SEC Preseason second team.
Vanderbilt was voted to finish 11th in the SEC Preseason Media Poll.
Vanderbilt opens its 2023-24 season with four-straight home games. The Commodores fell to Presbyterian, 68-62, in their home opener and then bounced back with a 74-67 victory over USC Upstate.
Ezra Manjon is leading the team with 17.5 points per game, while Tasos Kamateros is second with 14.5 points per game.
Carter Lang is currently averaging 8.5 rebounds per game and Colin Smith is second with 8.0 boards per game.
The Commodores hold the slight edge in scoring over their opponents, 136-135, and a slight larger gap in rebounds, 80-53.
TICKETS
To purchase tickets for any home games for the 2023-24 UNCG men’s basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.
UP NEXT
The Spartans continue their five-game road stint with another SEC battle against No. 14 Arkansas on Friday, November 17. The Spartans and Razorbacks will face off at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST at the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro