Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC - Ricky Hickman scored a career-high 21 points to lead UNC Greensboro to a 75-66 victory over The Citadel Saturday night in Fleming Gymnasium. With the win, UNCG improves to 6-11 on the season and 3-4 in Southern Conference play. The Citadel slips to 4-13 overall and 0-6 in league play.

Neither team struggled scoring in the game's early minutes. UNCG raced out to a 17-15 lead at the 15:03 mark of the first half behind seven points from Ronnie Taylor. As a team, the Spartans hit seven of their first eight shots from the field. The teams though were unable to continue their torrid pace, as UNCG outscored The Citadel, 5-3, over the next seven minutes.

After taking a 22-17 lead at the 13:20 mark on a Ray Bristow 3-pointer, the Spartans then went scoreless over the next six minutes and 56 seconds. In that time span the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game, 23-17, on a pair of Kevin Hammack free throws. Ricky Hickman ended the Spartans drought when he hit a jumper from just inside the 3-point line at the 6:24 mark.

Max Mombollett scored seven straight points to send the Bulldogs into halftime with a 33-31 lead. Despite shooting just 36% from the field, the Bulldogs pulled down 10 first half offensive rebounds and hit four 3-pointers. The Spartans shot 57%, but were without the services of their top two scorers, Jay Joseph and Ronnie Burrell, as they sat with early foul trouble.

Hickman hit a 3-pointer and converted on a fast break layup on back-to-back possessions to give UNCG a 10-point advantage, 55-45, midway through the second half. The Citadel answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from Dante Terry and Matt Davis to cut the Spartan lead to four, 57-53. The Spartans held on down the stretch for the victory, their second in the last three outings.

In addition to Hickman's 21 points, Jay Joseph scored 17 while connecting on 9-of-11 free throws. Ronnie Taylor scored 14 points, handed out seven assists, blocked two shots and recorded three steals. As a team, the Spartans hit 24-of-35 free throws, while the Bulldogs hit 10-of-12. Ronnie Burrell scored seven points, but pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Jay Joseph's streak of 48 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer came to an end, as he went 0-for-2. The streak began on February 28, 2002, during his sophomore season, against Wofford.

Dante Terry led four Bulldogs in double-figures with 17 points. Matt Davis scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Max Mombollet and J'mel Everhart each scored 13 points.

UNCG will return to action next Saturday, January 31, at Davidson. Tip-off is slated for 7 pm. The Citadel will continue their play in North Carolina as they take on Western Carolina Monday, January 26, at 7 pm.