UNCG Men’s Basketball Continues Home Stand on Thursday with Eastern Kentucky
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team continues its three-game homestand hosting Atlantic Sun foe Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) on Thursday, December 7 with a start time of 7:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
UNCG is on a five-game win streak which began with the program’s first ranked win against No. 14 Arkansas, 78-72 in Fayetteville and continued with the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship title. The Spartans came back from The Bahamas and defeated William Peace, 88-56 last Friday.
This will be the fourth time the two teams have met. The Colonials are 3-0 against the Spartans with the last matchup on December 22, 2022, where Eastern Kentucky won 68-64 in Richmond.
GAME INFO
Where: Fleming Gym | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Thursday, December 7 | 7 p.m.
Watch: (ESPN+) WATCH
Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets!
Promotion: UNCG Faculty/Staff Discount – UNCG Fac/Staff and their guests will receive the discounted ticket rate of only $10 with their Spartan ID!
UNCG students receive free admission by showing their student ID at the door.
UNCG is 6-1 overall this season, while EKU is 3-3. The Spartans are currently ranked No. 4 in the latest collegeinsider.com Men’s Mid Major Top 25®.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
UNCG defeated William Peace on Friday, December 1, 88-56, in Fleming Gym.
This was the second meeting between the two teams.
UNCG won by its largest margin this season against the Pacers.
This was the Spartans’ fifth-straight win of the season.
All 12 Spartans that played and registered a basket, with senior Mikeal Brown-Jones leading the game with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Kobe Langley dished out a game-high 10 assists, tying his career-high.
UNCG outshot William Peace in field goal percentage (58.9-32.8) and three-point percentage (45.0-23.1).
UNCG saw a lead of 34 twice in the second half, its largest of the season.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Currently, the Spartans are ranked nationally in the top 50 in six categories: seventh in turnovers per game (8.7), 32nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.56) and winning percentage (85.7), 47th in effective field goal percentage (0.550), 48th in field goal percentage defense (39.4), 49th in three-point percentage (37.7).
UNCG is outscoring its opponents 78.9-68.3 and is averaging 7.1 steals per game compared to its foes who are averaging 3.9 per game.
They are leading the conference in assist/turnover ratio, effective field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, three-point percentage, turnovers per game, and winning percentage.
Kobe is nationally ranked ninth in assists per game (6.7) and assist/turnover ratio (4.70), 28th in steals per game (16), and 29th in assists (47).
Kobe leads the SoCon in assist/turnover ratio, assists, assists per game, steals, and steals per game.
Brown-Jones is nationally ranked 35th in field goal percentage (62.3).
Keyshaun was named SoCon Player of the Week (Nov. 20), and Brown-Jones earned the honor on November 27.
UNCG earned a preseason CollegeInsider.com ranking of 25th and is currently fourth in week four.
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.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
EKU most recently fell to Western Kentucky, 79-69 on Sunday.
The Colonials are outscoring their opponents averaging 87.5 points per game, compared to their foes averaging 76.3.
Isaiah Cozart is leading the team with 10.5 rebounds per game and is second on the team averaging 14.7 points per game.
Leland Walker is also averaging 14.7 points per game.
Devontae Blanton is pacing the Colonials with 16.6 points per game.
Walker is dishing out 5.16 assists per game.
Cozart is leading the nation with 6.17 blocks per game and has 37 total blocks this season in six games played. He is also leading the nation with 5.00 offensive rebounds per game.
Cozart has had one triple double this season, where he tallied 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 blocks against Troy on November 27.
The Colonials are leading the nation as a team in both rebounds per game (47.33) and blocks per game (8.7).
TICKETS FOR HOME SPARTAN GAMES
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.
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UP NEXT
The Spartans conclude their three-game homestand, by hosting Elon on Sunday, December 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum. This game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ as well as Nexstar affiliates. Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games are: ECBD (Charleston), WBTW (Myrtle Beach), WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WJHL (Johnson City), WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke) and WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville).
Prior to the men’s game, the UNCG women’s basketball team will also face Elon with a 2:00 p.m. start time at the Greensboro Coliseum. Buying a men’s ticket will get fans into the women’s game.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro