GREENSBORO, N.C. – Five different players scored in double figures Saturday night as the UNCG men's basketball team opened the 2015-16 regular season with an 86-69 victory over crosstown foe Greensboro College on campus at Fleming Gymnasium. Seven different players scored at least eight points in the victory with junior guard Clay Byrd (Connelly Springs, N.C./East Burke) coming off the bench for a game-high 17 points.

“It is nice to get the first game under you belt,” head coach Wes Miller said. “Wins in college basketball are never easy no matter who you are playing. We are pleased we got our first win of the year tonight, but we have to play a lot better. I didn't think we executed on either end of the floor and we didn't look like the team we have been in the practice every day. We have to find a way to bring that over to games and that is part of playing the first game each year.”

The Spartans connected on 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field and hit 26-of-33 (78.8%) from the free throw line in the victory. Byrd led all scorers with 17 points while also grabbing six rebounds as he was 5-of-9 from long range in the victory. Junior guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) added 15 points, five assists and four steals as he was 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Sophomore Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) also chipped in 15 points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Smith connected on 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Senior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) added 10 points and six rebounds as he was 4-of-8 from the field and hit both of his free throws.

Freshman guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) made his UNCG debut and finished with 10 points in 19 minutes of action. Senior Asad Lamot (Mebane, N.C./Lees-McRae) made his first career start and scored nine points while junior forward Jordy Kuiper (Groningen, Netherlands/Canaries Basketball Academy) added eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

Greensboro College had four players in double figures with Trevin Miller leading the way with 13 points and seven rebounds. Simeon Howard finished with 11 points but was held to just 3-of-16 shooting from the field while Christopher Corbin tallied 11 points.

The Spartans opened the game on a 7-2 spurt as Locke and Kuiper established their play down low. UNCG maintained its lead ad held a 24-17 lead just over 11 minutes into the game when Byrd hit his first 3-pointer. Greensboro College answered with seven straight points to tie the game at 24-24 as Miller capped the run with a pair of free throws.

The Spartans were able to get some breathing room heading into break as they posted a 10-1 run to take a 38-28 lead before heading into the locker room leading 40-32. Smith scored three points in the run while Byrd hit his third 3-pointer of the half.

UNCG connected on 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the field and hit 9-of-11 (81.8%) from the free throw line in the first half. Byrd led all scorers with 11 points while Kuiper added eight points. Greensboro College committed seven first half turnovers and hit just 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from the field and only 2-of-10 (20%) from long range.

The Pride came out to start the second half and scored the first five points to narrow the gap to 40-37. UNCG kept Greensboro College at bay with a 6-0 run to take a 51-41 lead as Locke scored four straight. After another mini-push by the Pride, the Spartans scored eight straight with Alonso starting to heat up, scoring four points in the run.

UNCG was able to end any doubt by recording a 9-0 run to take a 76-69 lead with 4:45 left to play. Alonso started the run with a pair of free throws and Smith sored four points during the run as he attacked the basket from his wing position.

UNCG returns to action Tuesday night as it hosts Chowan as part of the Spartan Showcase. The game will be the Greensboro Coliseum opener this year for the Spartans and game time is set for 7 p.m.

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