MACON, Ga. – The UNCG men's basketball team returns to action for the second time in less than 48 hours Saturday as the Spartans make their first trip to Macon, Ga., since 1986 as they battle Southern Conference newcomer Mercer. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the University Center and will air on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App. Additionally, the game will be broadcast on 1320 WCOG AM and online via the TuneIn App with Tim Bickford providing the call.
Saturday's game marks just the fifth meeting all-tine between UNCG and Mercer and just the second meeting at the NCAA Division I level. The teams met three times in the 1980's at the NCAA Division III level with Mercer claiming victories in 1986 (64-45), 1982 (63-52) and 1981 (88-65).
Earlier this year, the Spartans dropped a 76-55 contest to the Bears at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans' defense was unable to corral the Bears as Mercer connected on 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field and hit 11-of-20 (55%) from long range. Mercer also took advantage of 13 UNCG miscues turning them into 21 points. UNCG was solid offensively hitting 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field and out-scoring the Bears 36-22 in the paint. The Spartans were held in check from the perimeter though as they hit just 2-of-7 (28.6%) despite entering the game averaging 7.0 made 3-pointers per game.
Sophomore guard Tevon Saddler (Aberdeen, Md./St. Frances Academy) led three Spartans in double figures with a game-high 20 points while also grabbing six rebounds and notching four steals. Saddler finished the night shooting 9-of-18 from the field for his fourth game this season with at least 20 points. Junior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) added 14 points and five rebounds as he was 7-of-11 from the field, scoring 10 points after the break.
Ike Nwamu led the Bears with 15 points, 13 in the second half as he was 4-of-10 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Jibri Bryan posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while Darious Moten added 14 points for Mercer.
The Spartans enter Saturday's game with an 8-18 overall record and a 4-9 mark in Southern Conference play. The Spartans are currently tied for eight overall, just one game out of the sixth spot, which earns a first round bye in the SoCon Tournament. UNCG is 4-7 on the road this season, including a 3-4 mark in league play as it has won back-to-back league road games at VMI and at The Citadel. The Spartans are averaging 70.1 points per game while allowing 72.4 points per game against.
Saddler leads the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game. He also leads the team with 90 assists and has gone to the free throw line 129 times, hitting 68.2 percent. Locke is second on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game and second on the glass at 5.4 rebounds per game. He is shooting 48.3 percent (131-of-271) from the field and has gone to the free throw line 121 times.
Senior guard Nicholas Paulos (Salt Lake City, Utah/New Hampton School) is third on the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game. Paulos leads the team with 72 3-pointers and is shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point land. Redshirt sophomore center R.J. White is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game and leads the team on the glass at 7.0 rebounds per game. White is shooting 54 percent (114-of-211) from the field. Sophomore guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) rounds out the double figure scorers at 10.1 points per game and is second on the team with 70 assists.
Mercer enters Saturday's game with a 14-12 overall record and a 9-4 mark in Southern Conference play. The Bears are currently alone in third place in the league, two games out of the top spot. Mercer is 9-2 at home this season, including 5-1 in league play, with its two lone losses to Dartmouth and most recently Western Carolina. The Bears are averaging 66.8 points per game while holding opponents to 62.2 points per game. Mercer is also out-rebounding opponents by a 34.0-31.6 margin this year. The Bears are 3-3 in their last six games after opening league play 6-1.
Nwamu leads the team in scoring at 15.4 points per game. He has hit a team-high 60 3-pointers and has hit 74.6 percent (85-of-114) from the charity stripe. Moten is second on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game but is averaging 14.7 points per league contest. He is shooting 50.5 percent (103-of-204) from the field and 71.8 percent (74-of-103) from the free throw line.
T.J. Hallice leads the team on the glass at 6.5 rebounds per game. Hallice also adds 8.9 points per game and is shooting 47.9 percent (90-of-188) from the field. Phillip Leonard leads the team with 123 assists and is shooting 50.7 percent (74-of-146) from the field.
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