Grit Shows in UNCG Men’s Basketball’s 87-85 Overtime Win over EKU
GREENSBORO, N.C.– The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team fought until the very end against Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), ultimately winning its sixth-straight game behind an 87-85 overtime victory Thursday night in Fleming Gym.
This was the fourth meeting between the two teams and first time that UNCG has won against Eastern Kentucky. This was the second game this season that the Spartans were down at the half and came out with the win.
Four Spartans tallied double digits in the victory with Donovan Atwell leading the game with 24 points. Mikeal Brown-Jones and Kobe Langley each had 19 points, while Akrum Ahemed chipped in 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans held the lead for three minutes and 41 seconds during the first half, as Eastern Kentucky rallied behind its offense. As UNCG made its fifth three-pointer of the game with 13:35 left in the first half, the Spartans tied the game for the first time at 15. The Spartans saw three from long-range from Atwell, two from Brown-Jones, and one from Kobe. An 11-1 run from the Colonels gave them a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, 26-16, with 9:25 left in the half. EKU climbed its way to a 12-point advantage twice as the two teams battled it out and the Colonels went to the locker room with an 11-point lead, 42-31.
The Spartans cut the deficit to three, 47-44, behind a 13-5 run that concluded with Atwell’s sixth three of the night. The Colonials bounced back and extended their lead back to double digits. Michael Moreno drained a three for EKU with 6:04 left on the clock giving the Colonels an 11-point advantage for the final time. UNCG utilized a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to four, 73-69. The two teams traded baskets before UNCG went on an 8-4 run to tie the game at 77. Brown-Jones had a big block right before the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Ahemed’s jumper at 4:20 in overtime was the first time since the first half that the Spartans had the lead in the first half. The score would tie four more times, including when Brown-Jones hit two free throws with 59 seconds left for an 85-all score. With time winding down, EKU missed a three-pointer with 27 seconds left and Kobe Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) entered the paint floating the ball into the air and through the net for the game-winning basket, 87-85.
From Brown-Jones
“I’m happy we came out with the win. This game is going to build our character for the rest of the season. This is going to push us. Our whole mentality when we play in Greensboro is to protect this house. EKU is a great team, but we showed who was better tonight.”
BY THE NUMBERS
This was Atwell’s second game this season with 20 or more points.
He shot 8-for-10 from behind the arc, matching his career-high of eight three-pointers.
Kobe tallied a season-high 19 points and had seven assists to lead the game.
Brown-Jones paced the Spartans with seven rebounds.
UNCG had 34 points in the paint compared to EKU’s 28.
The Spartans had 23 second-chance points, while the Colonels had 13.
UNCG had its second-highest free throw percentage this season, shooting 82.4 percent over EKU’s 57.1 percent.
UNCG also edged EKU in field goal percentage (47.6-45.7) and three-point percentage (54.2-45.0).
The Spartans’ 54.2 percent from behind the arc is the highest this season.
RECORDS
UNCG: 7-1
EKU: 3-4
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.
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TICKETS
To purchase tickets 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.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro