UNCG Men’s Basketball Travels to Western Carolina, Hosts Mercer this Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team splits locations this week, as it travels to face Western Carolina on Wednesday, January 24 for a tip off of 7:00 p.m. at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center. The Spartans will then host Mercer on Saturday, January 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum for a 7:00 p.m. start time. Both contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Attached photo of Kobe Langley (credit Denise Archetto)
UNCG is 14-5 overall this season and 5-1 in SoCon play. Western Carolina is 15-4 overall and 4-2 in SoCon play, while Mercer is 8-11 overall and 1-5 in SoCon action.
The Spartans are 8-0 this season when playing at home. UNCG has matched its 9-0 home record from the 2004-05 season.
GAME INFO
Where: Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C.
When: Wednesday, January 24 | 7 p.m.
Watch: (ESPN+) WATCH | Live Stats
Tickets
GAME INFO
Where: Greensboro Coliseum| Greensboro, N.C.
When: Saturday, January 27 | 7 p.m.
Watch: (ESPN+) Watch | Live Stats
Tickets
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LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
UNCG won its ninth game this season by double figures behind an 82-59 victory over the Wofford Terriers on Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum.
This was the Spartans’ ninth-straight win at home, which matches the home start from the 2004-05 season.
Mikeal Brown-Jones tallied his fourth double-double with game highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Keyshaun Langley added 16 points, while Jalen Breath chipped in 11 points.
Kobe Langley contributed six points, seven assists, and three steals. He is on a 17-game streak with at least one steal a game.
UNCG shot 52.7-percent from the floor. This was the fifth time this season that the Spartans shot over .500.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Currently, the Spartans are ranked nationally in the top 50 in eight categories: 12th in field goal percentage defense (39.0), 13th in three point percentage (39.1), 18th in three pointers per game (9.9), 32nd in effective field goal percentage (0.554), 33rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.49), 46th in three point percentage defense (30.5), 47th in winning percentage (73.7), 50th in assists per game (15.7).
UNCG is outscoring its opponents 77.1-68.0 and is averaging 6.9 steals per game compared to its foes who are averaging 5.5 per game.
They are leading the SoCon in assist/turnover ratio, field goal percentage defense, three-point percentage defense, and turnovers per game.
Kobe is nationally ranked 10th in steals (47), 11th in steals per game (2.47), 11th in assists (118), 13th in assists per game (6.2), 16th in assist/turnover ratio (3.47).
Atwell is nationally ranked 50th in total three-point field goals made (51).
Brown-Jones is nationally ranked 26th in points per game (20.1) and 35th in field goal percentage (58.5).
Three Spartans are averaging double figures, including Brown-Jones who is contributing 20.1 points a game, Keyshaun is averaging 13.4 points a game, and Atwell is averaging 10.7 points per game.
Keyshaun was named SoCon Player of the Week (Nov. 20), and Brown-Jones earned the honor on November 27 and most recently on January 22.
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 CATAMOUNTS
Western Carolina was voted to finish third in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll and tied for second in the media poll.
Three were named to the Preseason All-SoCon team, including Tre Jackson, Russell Jones, Jr., and Vonterius Woolbright.
Woolbright was named the Preseason SoCon Player of the Year.
The Catamounts are outscoring their opponents 75.3-65.9.
They are making 7.8 three pointers per game to their opponents’ 5.7.
Their opponents are outmatching them in steals per game, 5.6-4.2, but the Catamounts are leading the charge with 3.9 blocks per game compared to 2.6 from their opponents.
Woolbright is averaging a double-double with 21.1 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game. He is ranked first in the country with 16 double-doubles this season, 240 rebounds, and defensive rebounds per game (10.21).
Jackson (12.9), DJ Campbell (11.9), and Jones, Jr. (11.9) are the other three Catamounts that are averaging double-figure points.
Charles Lampten is averaging 1.9 blocks per game to pace Western Carolina.
The Catamounts are nationally ranked fifth in defensive rebounds per game (30.21), 18th in field goal percentage (39.4), 22nd in rebounds per game (40.74), 25th in winning percentage (78.9), and 48th in scoring defense (65.9).
RECORD VS. THE CATAMOUNTS
Western Carolina holds the advantage, 31-32.
The Spartans have won the last four meetings. UNCG has also won the last 14 of 15 contests against the Catamounts.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears were voted to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll and seventh in the Media Poll.
Jalyn McCreary was named to the Preseason All-SoCon Team.
Mercer will travel to Charleston, South Carolina to face The Citadel on Wednesday before traveling to Greensboro.
Mercer’s lone conference win was against VMI, 86-64.
Opponents edge the Bears in scoring, 71.4-70.0.
Nationally as a team, they are ranked 10th in bench points per game (33.11), which is second in the conference.
Jalyn McCreary is pacing the Bears with 14.4 points per game, while Jake Davis is averaging 10.2 points per game.
McCreary and Davis are both leading the team with 4.8 rebounds per game each.
McCreary is also leading the team in steals per game (1.31) and blocks per game (1.13).
Davis has shot 40.2-percent (37-for-92) from behind the arc this season to lead the team.
RECORD VS. BEARS
UNCG has the advantage, 13-9.
The Spartans are 8-2 since 2018-19.
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
Following these two games, UNCG hit the road to face VMI on Wednesday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m. and then Furman on Sunday, February 4 with a 2:00 p.m. start. The Spartans will face the Keydets on ESPN+, while the contest against the Paladins will be on ESPNU.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro