GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's basketball team fell behind by 20 points in the first half and that deficit proved too much to overcome despite a strong second half showing by the Spartans as they dropped a 77-68 contest to crosstown rival N.C. A&T Wednesday night at the Corbett Sports Center. The game was only the second visit all-time by the Spartans to the Corbett Sports Center and the first since 1990.

“You have to give Cy's (Alexander) team credit tonight,” head coach Wes Miller said. “We didn't execute very well at all but N.C. A&T was fantastic on the defensive end. We didn't do a good job of making things difficult for them offensively but they did a great job making plays.”

Freshman guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) continued his strong start to the season as he scored a career-high 25 points in his first career start. Alonso connected on 7-of-13 from 3-point land in 34 minutes of play while also dishing out five assists. Junior center R.J. White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) was the lone other Spartan in double figure scoring, finishing with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field.

“Francis is a young man that has played high-level basketball internationally,” Miller said. “He is a very good shooter and is prepared to have a really good freshman year, but he is still a freshman though and makes mistakes out there in other facets of the game. He is going to have to have a big year for us to be successful.”

The Spartans connected on 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field in the loss and 37.5 percent (12-of-32) from long range. UNCG was also just 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the free throw line, including eight misses in the second half as it was trying to mount a rally.

N.C. A&T (2-7) conversely connected on 55.3 percent (21-of-38) from the field and hit 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from long range. The Aggies went to the free throw line 38 times as the Spartans were whistled for 26 personal fouls. Bruce Beckford led the Aggies with 21 points while Sam Hunt added 20 points as four different players scored in double figures.

The Aggies jumped out to an early lead on their home court and hit both from the outside and the inside. N.C. A&T would extend its lead to 42-22 with a 13-3 run as the Spartans battled through foul trouble in the half with 11 fouls against as the Aggies went to the free throw line 14 times in the half. UNCG was able to cut into the lead and head into the locker room trailing 44-29 as it closed on a 7-2 run. White scored all seven points during the run as the Spartans started to look inside in the paint.

UNCG connected on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from the field and 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from long range in the half while only going to the free throw line three times. Alonso led UNCG with nine points in the first half while White added seven points. The Aggies connected on 52 percent (13-of-25) from the field, 50 percent (6-of-12) from long range and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the charity stripe. Bruce Beckford led the Aggies with 11 points while three other players scored nine points in the half.

The Spartans came out of the break and quickly went back inside to White who scored the first six points of the second half to pull UNCG within nine at 44-35 and force the Aggies into a timeout. Each time the Spartans made a little run, N.C A&T would answer with a spurt of its own to run the lead back to double figures. Beckford hit a 3-pointer with 10:49 left to give the Aggies a 57-42 lead.

The Spartans kept battling and against made it a nine-point game as Alonso and junior Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) hit 3-pointers. After the Aggies extended the lead once again, UNCG pulled with six at 66-60 with 2:21 remaining when Alonso and senior Asad Lamot (Mebane, N.C./Lees-McRae) connected from the outside.

N.C. A&T was able to push the lead back up to double figures as Joshea Singleton scored off a drive and Hunt hit four straight free throws after a technical foul on UNCG. The Spartans' last gasp came as freshman Demetrius Troy (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) hit a 3-pointer and Alonso hit a pair of free throws to make it a 72-65 game but the Aggies were able to seal the victory at the free throw line.

The Spartans out-scored the Aggies 39-33 in the second half as they out-rebounded N.C. A&T 20-15, including 10 offensive rebounds in the second half. The aggressive play on the glass wasn't enough to counteract the Aggies shooting 61.5 percent from the field in the second half and going to the free throw line 24 times.

UNCG will be off for a week for final exams. The Spartans return to action next Wednesday night with another Triad rival as they travel to High Point. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

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