Mercer Edges UNCG Men’s Basketball, 70-64
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team fell to Mercer, 70-64, in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action on Saturday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Mikeal Brown-Jones registered his fifth-career double-double scoring a game-high of 19 points and tallying a career-high of 16 rebounds. Donovan Atwell was second on the team with 15 points, all from his 5-from-8 shooting behind the arc. Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford High School) chipped in 13 points.
Attached photo of Donovan Atwell (credit Denise Archetto)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer scored early, as the Bears got off to a 5-0 start. The Spartans tied the game twice and took their first lead, 20-19, behind a 13-6 run in just over five minutes. Atwell drained his third three of the game at 6:19 to knot the game at 25 and then Jalen Breath made a layup at 4:31 to tie for the fourth time at 27. The Bears maintained the advantage for the remaining time in the first half, heading to the break with a 10-point advantage, 41-31.
The Spartans cut the deficit to six, 41-35, in the first 30 seconds of the second half. The Bears then went on a 9-3 run, climbing to a 12-point lead, 50-38. UNCG came within five, 57-52, after scoring five-straight points, including a three-pointer from Joryam Saizonou with 10:30 left in the half. The two teams went back and forth, but UNCG closed the gap to three, 67-64, on a 6-0 run. Mercer concluded the game with a made free throw and a jumper from Jalen Cobb to secure a six-point victory, 70-64.
BY THE NUMBERS
Kobe Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) had four assists and five rebounds.
Breath had seventh points and five rebounds.
UNCG outrebounded Mercer, 37-34.
Mercer had 32 bench points to UNCG’s eight.
The Bears had 30 points in the paint, compared to the Spartans’ 22.
RECORDS
UNCG: 15-6, 6-2 SoCon
Mercer: 9-12, 2-6 SoCon
UP NEXT
UNCG will 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
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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