UNCG - The Citadel Box Score
Box Score
Josh Gross had 13 points, including several key baskets late |
CHARLESTON, SC – UNC Greensboro rallied twice from double-digit deficits – once in each half – and knocked down 9-of-10 free throws in the final 1:35 to defeat The Citadel, 78-68, and hand the Bulldogs their first home loss of the season.
It is the first time UNCG has started Southern Conference play 5-1 since joining the league prior to the 1997-98 season. The Spartans are 12-5 overall, surpassing last year's win total of 11. It was also UNCG's seventh win in the last eight meetings against The Citadel (11-6, 3-3).
The Spartans had all five starters score in double-figures, led by Kyle Hines' 15 points before he fouled out with 4:36 to play. Josh Gross was key down the stretch after Hines fouled out, finishing with 13 points. Ronnie Burrell had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Ricky Hickman and Ray Bristow chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Citadel was led by Donny McClendon's 21 points, including five three-pointers. Warren McClendon added 17 points for the Bulldogs. The loss snapped The Citadel's eight-game home winning streak.
For the game, UNCG shot 49 percent from the field (29-49) against the SoCon leader in field goal defense. The Citadel was holding opponents to just 38.9 percent shooting entering the contest and was also second in the SoCon in scoring defense at 64.3 ppg.
“We turned the ball over a lot early,” said UNCG coach Fran McCaffery. “We had 14 turnovers in the first half and just one in the entire second half. If you want to point to one stat that was really the difference for us, I think that tells the story.”
The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, forcing eight UNCG turnovers in the first seven minutes, to jump out to a 13-4 lead. The Citadel, entering the game next-to-last in the SoCon three-point field goal percentage, extended its lead to 22-9 with three three-pointers.
The Spartans slowly climbed back in it and took the lead, holding the Bulldogs to just one field goal over 8:33 to take a 29-26 lead. However, Donny McLendon picked up a loose ball and knocked down a 25-footer at the buzzer to tie the score at intermission. In UNCG's 14-4 run to close out the half, Kyle Hines scored six of his 10 first half points.
The Citadel came out and scored the first five points of the second half to re-take the lead. The lead was stretched back out to 10 with 12:10 to play thanks to a 7-2 Bulldog run.
A second-half scuffle, however, got the Spartans fired up. After a dunk by the Bulldogs Warren McClendon, McClendon stared down Hines, who had fouled him on the play. Players from both sides began pushing and shoving, resulting in a double-technical. After McClendon made his free throw, however, UNCG went on an 10-0 run to close back to tie the game, 53-53, with just under 10 minutes to play.
The teams battled back and forth over the next eight minutes with neither team leading by more than four points. Josh Gross gave UNCG a two-point lead with 1:47 to play and then grabbed a loose ball on the ensuing possession and got fouled. He knocked down both foul shots to give UNCG its biggest lead of the game to that point, 71-67, and beginning UNCG's clutch free throw string.
UNCG has won 14 straight when holding the opposition under 70 points dating back to December 2003.
AGATE
UNC GREENSBORO (12-5, 5-1 SoCon)
Hines, 7-11 1-3 15; Gross, 5-7 3-3 13; Hickman, 4-11 4-8 13; Burrell, 4-9 4-6 12; Bristow, 3-8 4-4 11; Oleksiak, 2-8 0-0 5; Johnson, 2-2 0-1 4; Everette, 1-2 1-2 3; Beckford, 1-1 0-2 2; Totals 29-59 17-29 78.
THE CITADEL (11-5, 3-3 SoCon)
D. McLendon, 6-20 4-6 21; W. McLendon, 7-15 2-3 17; Hammack, 3-6 3-4 9; Davis, 2-5 2-2 8; Everhart, 1-3 5-9 7; Miller, 2-4 2-2 6; Xia, 0-1 0-0 0; Nelson, 0-1 0-0 0; Terry, 0-2 0-0 0; Smith, 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-58 18-26 68.
Halftime: Tied, 29-29. 3-point goals-UNC Greensboro 3-12 (Bristow, 1-2; Oleksiak, 1-4; Hickman, 1-5; Burrell, 0-1), The Citadel 8-22 (McLendon, 5-13; Davis, 2-3; McLendon, 1-3; Terry, 0-2; Smith, 0-1). Fouled out--UNC Greensboro-Hines, The Citadel-McLendon. Rebounds-UNC Greensboro 34 (Burrell, 10), The Citadel 41 (Everhart, 10). Assists-UNC Greensboro 13 (Johnson, 6), The Citadel 16 (Everhart, 4). Total fouls-UNC Greensboro 16, The Citadel 23. A-3145
