UNCG Men’s Basketball Claims 60-57 Gritty Win Over VMI
LEXINGTON, VA. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team came from behind for a gritty 60-57 victory over VMI on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Hall in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action.
With the win, the Spartans snapped VMI’s three-game win streak. It also extended UNCG’s win streak over the Keydets in regular season play to five.
Three Spartans registered double figures, including Kenyon Giles who paced the team with 14 points. Donovan Atwell had 12 points and Jalen Breath chipped in 10 points.
Attached photo of Malik Henry (credit Randall Wolf)
HOW IT HAPPENED
VMI scored the first four points of the game, but the Spartans responded with four points of their own on a dunk from Malik Henry and a layup from Miles Jones. The Keydets went on an 11-3 run to put them up eight, 15-7, with 11:30 on the clock. UNCG’s 8-2 run was capped by Muon Reath’s layup at 8:41 to close the gap to two, 17-15. A layup at 4:33 from the Keydet’s TJ Johnson gave VMI a five-point cushion, 25-20, but UNCG fought back with a 7-3 run which included five points from Atwell. VMI went into the break with a one-point lead, 28-27.
Demetrius Davis scored the first basket of the second half giving UNCG a one-point edge, 29-28, but VMI scored eight-straight points to go up five, 36-31, with 15:02 left in the second half. The two teams battled back and forth until the Keydets found themselves with a 10-point advantage twice with the later at 7:11 thanks to a layup from Tan Yildizoglu. The Spartans scored eight-straight points for a two-point deficit, 51-49, capped by a fastbreak dunk from Davis at 4:57. The scoring toggled back and forth in the remaining minutes until Giles’ three-pointer at 1:23 put UNCG up 58-57. Giles and Breath both had their chance at the free throw line where they went 1-for-2 extending the lead to three, 60-57, and defending the rim on the other side to hold on for the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Polite III tallied eight points.
Polite III, Henry and Davis each had two steals.
Giles has now scored double figures in 19 of 20 games this season.
Miles Jones led the game with eight rebounds and Breath was second with seven boards.
UNCG outrebounded VMI, 41-33.
The Spartans had the advantage in field goal percentage (41.8-37.7) and three-point percentage (24.0-22.2), while the Keydets led the way in free throw percentage (61.1-50.0).
RECORDS
UNCG: 13-8, 6-2 SoCon
VMI: 9-12, 3-5 SoCon
TICKETS
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.
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will return home for two games, first taking on ETSU on Wednesday, Jan. 29 inside Fleming Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday’s game will be the Spartans’ Blue Out game! The first 500 UNCG students will receive a Beanie, t-shirt and free food! UNCG students can enter to win VIP seats!
Then UNCG will begin the second round of SoCon games hosting Wofford on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the First Horizon Coliseum at 6:00 p.m. This game will serve as Reading Day.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro