UNCG Men’s Basketball Welcomes FGCU for Home Opener Monday

UNCG Men’s Basketball Welcomes FGCU for Home Opener Monday

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Fourth-year Head Coach Mike Jones and the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team begins the 2024-25 season with a matchup at home against Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) foe Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at First Horizon Coliseum.

Game 1: UNC Greensboro (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) vs. FGCU (0-0, 0-0 ASUN)
Date
Monday, November 4
Time
7:00 p.m.
Location
Greensboro, N.C. (First Horizon Coliseum)
Tickets
Click here to purchase tickets
Promotions
Storm the Streets! (at the UNCG Baseball Stadium) The first 1,000 students will receive a FREE t-shirt!
Local Colleges Night!
Family 4 Pack: Family of 4 tickets for $40
Coverage
Live Stats: Live Stats | Video: ESPN+
Social Media
Twitter: @UNCGBasketball | Instagram: @uncgbasketball | Facebook: UNCGmbb

LAST SEASON FOR THE SPARTANS
UNCG concluded last season 21-11 overall and 12-6 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
This was the seventh year out of eight with 20 or more wins for the Spartans.
This was the second out of three years under Head Coach Mike Jones that the Spartans won 20 or more games.
The Spartans won the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in November in the Bahamas.
The 2023-24 squad made history as a team, defeating then-ranked No. 14 Arkansas, 78-72, in Fayetteville for the programs’ first ranked win.
UNCG concluded the 2023-24 season ranked in the top 50 nationally in five categories, including fourth in three-point percentage (39.7), 12th in three pointers per game (10.1), 32nd in field goal percentage defense (41.0), 34th in effective field goal percentage (.546) and 42nd in three-point attempts per game (25.4).
The Spartans led the conference in three-point percentage.
Jalen Breath is the top returning rebounder for the Spartans, averaging a career-best 6.1 boards per game.
Donovan Atwell is the top returning scorer for UNCG, averaging a career-best 11.2 points per game.
UNCG outmatched its opponents in scoring 75.7-69.8, rebounding 35.4-33.8 and steals 7.0-5.8.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans were voted to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Atwell was voted to the Preseason All-SoCon team.
The Spartans return nine from last year’s roster, while adding seven newcomers.
UNCG has 13 regular season non-conference games this season: five home, five away and three neutral.
Non-conference breakdown: CAA (2), ASUN (2), Big South (1), ACC (1), Big Ten (1), Big West (1), Mountain West (1), Conference USA (1), NCCAA (1), DIII (2)
The Spartans open the 2024-25 season with their first of two SoCon/ASUN battles including Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 4 at the First Horizon Coliseum with a start time of 7:00 p.m.
The Blue & Gold will hit the road and travel to Dallas, Texas to face 2024 NIT participant, SMU, on Nov. 11 inside the Moody Coliseum.
There will be six games in Fleming Gymnasium and eight in the First Horizon Coliseum this season.
UNCG begins its SoCon slate with a game on New Year’s Day, traveling to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to face off against Wofford and the Spartans conclude regular season conference play on March 1 against Samford in Greensboro.
UNCG travels to Wofford on Jan. 1 and Chattanooga on Jan. 9 and will play on the CBS Sports Network.
The Spartans’ game at ETSU on Feb. 19 will be on ESPNU, while the team will host Samford on March 1 on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Kenyon Giles joins the Spartans after two years at Radford, where he was first on the team with 1.4 steals per game and second on the team with 14.3 points per game.
Ronald Polite III and Malik Henry both come to UNCG with four years previously at George Mason. Polite III has averaged 7.38 points per game and 2.5 assists per game. Henry contributed a 62.5-percentage in field goals during his time with the Patriots.
Demetrius Davis joins the Spartans after playing the last two seasons at Chattanooga and one year each at Lawson State Community College and Augusta.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
FGCU went 14-18 overall last season and 8-8 in the ASUN.
FGCU was voted to finish sixth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches’ Poll and fourth in the Preseason Media Poll.
Sixth-year player Keeshawn Kellman was voted the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year as well as to the All-ASUN team.
Opponents outmatched the Eagles in scoring 71.1-70.4, but FGCU outrebounded its foes 34.3-32.6
Kellman is the top returning scorer for the Eagles. He finished third on the team, averaging 12.2 points per game last season. He led the team with 7.0 rebounds per game and 223 total rebounds.
Kellman also averaged 1.15 blocks per game last season to pace the team.
Kellman was nationally ranked second in field goal percentage (68.4) and 41st in defensive rebounds per game.
Rahmir Barno returns for the Eagles and was the top player with 2.4 assists per game and 1.06 steals per game.
FGCU concluded the season ranked in the top three in two categories, including first in scoring defense (71.1) and third in rebound margin (1.7).
The Eagles return four players from last year’s team under the direction of third-year Head Coach Pat Holmes.

TICKETS FOR HOME SPARTAN GAMES
To secure your tickets for UNCG men’s basketball home games click HERE for options including single games and group discounts, flex plans, and full season ticket options. The home basketball schedule includes eight (8) home games at First Horizon Coliseum and Six (6) home games at Fleming Gymnasium. To learn more about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250.

PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
UNCGgear.com is your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!

UP NEXT
The Spartans follow this game with their first away game of the season. UNCG will travel to Dallas, Texas to face ACC foe SMU at Moody Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET.

Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro