ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
The 1995-96 men's basketball team was the seventh team inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame. The squad was the first men's basketball team to reach the NCAA Division I Tournament after posting a 20-10 overall record and an 11-3 mark in Big South Conference play.
The Spartans, under the direction of head coach Randy Peele, won the Big South Tournament title in just their second appearance all-time, posting victories over Coastal Carolina (78-67), Charleston Southern (69-60), and Liberty (69-53). UNCG advanced to the NCAA Tournament at the Southeast Region in Orlando, Fla., falling to No. 7 Cincinnati, 66-61.
The Spartans won the Big South regular-season championship while also posting an eight-game winning streak, which at the time was their longest in NCAA Division I history. Eric Cuthrell picked up First Team All-Big South honors after leading the team on the glass at 9.2 rebounds per game while placing third in scoring at 10.8 points per contest. Brian Brunson picked up Second Team All-Conference honors after leading the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the field.
Scott Hartzell was also Second Team All-Big South after leading the team with 149 assists while chipping in 12.1 points per game. Hartzell was named the Big South Tournament Most Valuable Player for his efforts in leading the Spartans to the championship.
Team members: Scott Hartzell, Eric Cuthrell, Brian Brunson, Jonathan Clifton, Gary Mearite, Skeet Woolard, Tony Daughtry, Jeremy Davis, Larri Gilbert, Derrick Nix, Ivan Jaklenec, Demetrius Cherry, Justin Stewart, Dennis McCurdy, Randy Peele (Head Coach), Jeff Reynolds (Assistant Coach), John Corry (Assistant Coach), Keith Adkins (Assistant Coach), Darryl Kosciak (student assistant coach), Chris Allen (manager), Ashley Wooten (manager), and Jaime Perez (athletic trainer).
*All stats were as of the date of induction.
