UNCG Men’s Basketball Claws Past Catamounts, 71-65
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team earned a 71-65 win over Western Carolina on Wednesday night in the Greensboro Coliseum, claiming the regular season sweep over the Catamounts.
Four Spartans earned double figures in the contest. Mikeal Brown-Jones and Keyshaun Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) paced the team with 19 points apiece. Donovan Atwell followed closely behind with 15 points and Kobe Langley(Southwest Guilford HS) added 10 points.
Attached photo of Mikeal Brown-Jones (credit Denise Archetto)
Tim Ceaser’s two rebounds in the contest allowed him to reach 500 career boards.
Wednesday’s win over the Catamounts gives Head Coach Mike Jones his second season out of three with 20 wins. In addition, it is his seventh season of 13 to reach 20 wins or more as a head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A layup from Vonterius Woolbright, followed by a three-pointer from Atwell started a back-and-forth series between the Catamounts and Spartans in the early goings. However, with Western Carolina up 11-10, a driving layup from Joryam Saizonou began a 4-0 run for the Spartans to take the lead (14-11). With 5:37 remaining in the first half, Brown-Jones drove through the paint for a layup, which started a run of 12 consecutive points from the senior before heading into the break. Woolbright scored on a turnaround jumper with one second left, as the two teams went to the locker room with UNCG in control, 31-26. This is the 19th game this season where the Spartans were up at the half.
The Spartans started off the second half with a 7-2 run to take a 10-point lead over Western Carolina, 38-28,. UNCG continued to hold its lead until late in the game. The Catamounts chipped away to come back into the contest. With the Spartans up 55-53, Western Carolina’s Russell Jones Jr. recorded a three-pointer to give the team a 56-55 lead. This was the first time Western Carolina held the lead since early in the game. However, Atwell quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own, allowing UNCG to regain the lead and hold it for the remainder of the game. The Spartans claimed the 71-65 win with their last five points coming at the charity stripe.
BY THE NUMBERS
Atwell added a new career game high going 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
Keyshaun went 4-for-4 from behind the arc.
Brown-Jones paced the Spartans with eight boards.
Kobe notched four dimes for UNCG.
The Spartans shot 47.1 percent from behind the three-point line.
RECORDS
UNCG: 20-8, 11-4 SoCon
Western Carolina: 19-9, 8-7 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road to take on Mercer on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Hawkins Arena.
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TICKETS
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Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro