GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's basketball team returns home to the Greensboro Coliseum Wednesday for a rare midweek matinee as the Spartans host crosstown foe Greensboro College for the second annual Guilford County Schools (GCS) Education Day game. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. with 2,500 GCS middle school students set to be in attendance.
The game will be video streamed online for free on the SoCon Digital Network in full HD with links available at www.uncgspartans.com. Additionally, the game will be aired on 1320 WCOG AM and online on the TuneIn App with Scott Pryzwansky and Darryl Kosciak providing the call.
Wednesday's game marks the 59th meeting all-time between UNCG and Greensboro College, but just the fourth meeting since 1990. The Spartans and the Pride are tied 29-29 in the all-time series with the Spartans winning 11 straight games. UNCG has won all three meetings as a member of NCAA Division I with wins in 2005 (69-41), 2008 (85-47) and last year's 92-62 victory. Additionally, the Spartans won the last eight meetings against the Pride, prior to UNCG's move to Division I. Greensboro College last posted a victory in the series February 16, 1985 with a 75-73 win at home.
Last year, the Spartans controlled play against the Pride and broke the game open in the second half with an early 13-1 run that extended their lead to 20-points. The Spartans connected on 58.6 percent (34-of-58) from the field and hit 7-of-14 (50%) from long range in the victory. UNCG also controlled the glass against Greensboro College, holding a 51-33 advantage on the glass while dishing out 23 assists.
Former UNCG Spartan Kyle Cain led the attack with 23 points and 14 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action as he was 10-of-14 from the field. Guard Tevon Saddler (Aberdeen, Md./St. Frances Academy) added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds in 19 minutes of play. Jacob Thomas led the Pride with 15 points while Damian Dixon chipped in 11 as Greensboro College shot just 28.4 percent (21-of-74) from the field.
The Spartans are coming off a 55-53 victory at NCAA Division I foe Presbyterian Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) led the way with a game-high 20 points, including the game-winning basket with 3.2 seconds remaining. Locke also grabbed eight rebounds in the victory and is third on the team this year in scoring at 13.1 points per game.
Saddler leads the team in scoring on the year at 14.5 points per game while also leading the team with 33 assists and 35 free throws made. Redshirt sophomore center RJ White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game and leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. White has posted three double-doubles this year, including an 11-point, 10-rebound effort against the Blue Hose.
Senior guard Nicholas Paulos (Salt Lake City, Utah/New Hampton School) played in his 100th career game for the Spartans in Clinton, S.C., Saturday. Paulos rounds out the Spartans averaging double figures this year at 11.5 points per game and is shooting 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from 3-point land. He is currently fifth all-time in UNCG history with 196 career 3-pointers made.
Greensboro College enters Wednesday's game with a 3-2 overall record and will be playing just its second true road game this year. The Pride have picked up wins over Warren Wilson, Wesley and Maryland Bible while dropping games to Guilford and Warren Wilson.
Devan Gregory leads the Pride in scoring at 18.0 points per game as he is shooting 43.9 percent (29-of-66) from the field and 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from long range. Simeon Howard is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game while leading the team on the glass with 6.6 rebounds per game. Brandon Pacucci rounds out the players in double figures scoring at 10.0 points per game and has hit nine 3-pointers.
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