GREENSBORO, N.C. – All five UNCG men's basketball starters scored in double figures as the Spartans coasted past Mars Hill 92-48 Wednesday afternoon on campus at Fleming Gymnasium in their final non-conference game of the year. The Spartans return to Southern Conference play Saturday evening as they host league-newcomer Mercer at the Greensboro Coliseum at 5 p.m.

The Spartans (5-9) dominated play as they connected on 50.7 percent (35-of-69) from the field and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from long range in the victory. UNCG was strong defensively, limiting Mars Hill to just 32.8 percent (20-of-61) shooting from the field and only 21.4 percent (6-of-28) from distance. The Spartans also forced the Lions into 20 turnovers, which UNCG turned into 28 points. The Spartans' 92 points are a season-high and their 44-point victory is the largest of the season.

Sophomore guard Tevon Saddler (Aberdeen, Md./St. Frances Academy) led the way with a game-high 19 points, six rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes of action. Saddler connected on 7-of-11 from the field and hit 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Redshirt sophomore center R.J. White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) added 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. White scored 16 of his points in the second half and finished the game shooting 7-of-11 from the field and hitting all four free throws.

Junior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) added 17 points and seven rebounds as he was 7-of-13 from the field. Senior guard Nicholas Paulos (Salt Lake City, Utah/New Hampton School) chipped in 13 points and six rebounds as he hit 4-of-7 from distance. Sophomore guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points and six rebounds as he made his second consecutive start.

The Spartans came out of the gate quickly, opening to a 12-4 lead on the Lions as Locke scored six points early in the paint setting the stage for the game. After Mars Hill slowed the early momentum for UNCG trimming the deficit to 14-8, the Spartans went to the outside to extend their lead to 25-13. UNCG hit three consecutive 3-pointers during the stretch as Baldwin, Saddler and Paulos hit from the outside to extend the lead to double figures. 

Mars Hill narrowed the gap back to six at 27-21 with a 7-2 run but the Spartans closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a 42-25 lead at the break. Baldwin and junior Ben Dickinson (Alexandria, Va./Loyola Marymount) added four points each during the stretch while Paulos nailed a 3-pointer just inside the half court line at the buzzer to send UNCG into the locker room carrying a 17-point lead.

The Spartans connected on 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the field and hit 5-of-12 (41.7%) from long range in the opening half. Mars Hill was limited to 39.3 percent (11-of-28) shooting from the field and hit just 2-of-10 (20%) from distance in the first half.

The Spartans opened up the second half on a 17-8 run to extend the lead to 59-33. White was the primary force in the early going, scoring the first eight points of the half for the Spartans as UNCG pounded the ball in the paint. The Spartans out-scored the Lions 44-14 in the paint for the game.

UNCG ended any doubt in the game as it posted a 24-0 run over a span of 7:43 to take a 21-point lead to a 45-point lead. Saddler kicked off the dominating run by converting an old-fashioned three-point play on his way to six points during the stretch. Locke and Baldwin scored five points in the run while White capped it off with six straight points to finish the convincing victory.

Dickinson added six points in the victory off the bench as he was 3-of-6 from the field. Freshman walk-on Garrett Collins (Asheville, N.C./Fishburne Military Academy) hit a pair of 3-pointers in five minutes of play. Kevin Haynes scored 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting while Brandon McCarter added nine points to lead Mars Hill.

The Spartans, who opened SoCon play with a road win at East Tennessee State, returns to league play Saturday as they host SoCon newcomer and 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Mercer at the Greensboro Coliseum. UNCG will also welcome in The Citadel next Monday during its three-game home stretch.

-UNCG-