CLINTON, S.C. – UNCG junior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) scored a team-high 20 points, including a pivotal basket with 3.2 seconds left, as the Spartans posted a 55-53 victory over NCAA Division I foe Presbyterian Saturday afternoon at the Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C.

“This was one that we needed to get today,” head coach Wes Miller said. “We did a good job playing for the team today and playing as a unit all game long. Additionally, I was so proud of Kayel today. He didn't let himself get frustrated and just played the next possession. He came up with some big plays and he battled for that offensive rebound in the final seconds, which was the difference in the game.”

Locke finished the game just shy of a double-double with 20 points and eight rebounds as he played 35 minutes of action. He connected on 9-of-17 from the field, including scoring on an offensive rebound put back with 3.2 seconds left for what turned out to be the game-winning tally. Redshirt sophomore center RJ White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) recorded a double-double in the victory with 11 points and 10 rebounds as he was 5-of-10 from the field.

The Spartans finished the game shooting 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field and hit just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from 3-point land. Senior Nicholas Paulos (Salt Lake City, Utah/New Hampton School) hit three of the Spartans' 3-pointers, finishing 3-of-4 from distance on his way to 11 points. UNCG also committed just six turnovers in the victory and won the rebounding battle by a 35-30 margin.

Presbyterian finished the game shooting 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field and 5-of-12 (41.7%) from distance. Forward William truss led the Blue Hose with 17 points and eight rebounds as he was 7-of-13 from the field. Jordan Downing, who scored 37 points against UNCG last season, was limited to 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field.

The Spartans came out of the gate quickly, opening to an early 9-2 lead just over five minutes into the game. Locke got the ball rolling as he scored the first four of the game for the Spartans while Paulos hit a 3-pointer.

After the Blue Hose pulled within three at 9-6, the Spartans answered back with a 9-1 run to take an 18-7 lead. White ignited the spurt, scoring six straight in the post. Junior Asad Lamot (Mebane, N.C./Lees-McRae) capped the run with a 3-pointer from the corner against the zone.

Presbyterian settled in and narrowed the gap to 24-21 with a 14-6 run. The Blue Hose went inside to William Truss as he scored six straight points before Marcus Terry and Jordan Downing each hit a 3-pointer. The Spartans extended the lead once again with five straight points between Locke and Paulos for a 33-25 lead, but Downing drew a foul on a 3-pointer with four seconds left in the half, converting all three to send the Spartans into the locker room leading 33-28.

UNCG connected on 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3%) from long range in the opening half playing against the Presbyterian zone. Locke led all scorers with 12 points in the opening half on 5-of-9 shooting from the field while Paulos, White and sophomore Tevon Saddler (Aberdeen, Md./St. Frances Academy) each added six points. The Spartans also held a 16-15 edge on the glass and did not commit a turnover in the first half while handing out seven assists. Presbyterian connected on 10-of-25 (40%) from the field and hit both of its 3-pointers in the first half. Truss led the Blue Hose with 10 points while Downing chipped in six points.

The Spartans came out of the break and quickly went to work on the inside as White converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to run the lead to eight at 36-28. The Blue Hose kept battling and narrowed the deficit to 42-40 as Truss scored on 3-point play with 13:31 left. The Spartans answered with seven straight points, forcing a Blue Hose timeout. Paulos started the run with a 3-pointer while Locke and White both scored on consecutive possessions to run the lead to 49-40 with 11:15 left.

UNCG fell into a dry spell offensively down the stretch as both teams tightened up on the defensive end. Presbyterian came back with a 10-2 run to pull within one at 51-50 with 5:08 remaining. Markus Terry started the stretch by hitting a deep 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down and Downing scored five straight to take the UNCG lead down to one.

Saddler gave the Spartans a 53-50 lead as he scored on an offensive rebound with 4:09 remaining, but Truss came down on the ensuing possession scoring in the paint to make it a 53-52 contest. The teams traded defensive stops for the next three minutes until the Spartans had the ball with under 30 seconds left. Saddler made a move towards the basket with just over five seconds remaining but his elbow jumper bounced off the rim. Locke beat out two Presbyterian defenders for the rebound and created space underneath before scoring the put-back for a 55-52 lead with 3.2 seconds remaining.

The Spartans decided to foul Presbyterian in the back court sending Terry to the line. Terry hit the first free throw to make it a two-point game and purposely missed the second free throw. The rebound was batted around the floor as the clock ran down before Terry corralled the loose ball and heaved an off-balanced 3-pointer at the buzzer that fell off the front of the rim sending the Spartans to the victory.

The Spartans return home to the Greensboro Coliseum Wednesday for a rare midweek matinee game. UNCG will host Greensboro College at 11:30 a.m. for the second annual Guilford County Schools Education Day, where 2,500 GCS middle school students will attend the game in conjunction with UNCG Athletics.

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