Box Score JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The UNCG men's basketball team was on the other end of a tough loss Saturday evening in Johnson City as the Spartans suffered a last-second loss to Southern Conference foe East Tennessee State 86-83 at Freedom Hall.
Just earlier this week UNCG posted a last-second victory over Furman but tonight the Spartans fell victim to a game-winning 3-pointer by T.J. Cromer with 6.1 seconds remaining to send the Buccaneers to the victory. The Spartans return to action in a little over 48 hours as they travel through the mountains to take on Western Carolina. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Cullowhee and will be televised on the American Sports Network.
“This is a tough loss for our guys,” head coach Wes Miller said. “This one hurts because we had a chance to take one on the road and we know how hard that task is against a good team like ETSU. Our guys kept battling and fighting, making plays down the stretch. Credit ETSU for hitting some big shots, but our guys know if we keep competing like we have recently, good things will start to happen.”
Once again it was a battle of contrasting styles as UNCG owned the paint and ETSU was stellar from the outside. The Spartans out-scored the Buccaneers 34-12 in the paint, paced by junior center R.J. White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco), despite fouling out in just 16 minutes. White scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in limited action as he was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field as ETSU did not have an answer for him.
Freshman guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) had his best game in SoCon play, scoring a team-high 21 points. Alonso was 7-of-14 from the field and hit 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Senior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) was the Spartans other offensive force in the paint, scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds as he was 8-of-16 from the field.
UNCG (5-11, 1-2 SoCon) connected on 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the field and hit 10-of-24 (41.7%) from distance. Additionally, the Spartans hit 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line and won the rebounding battle by a 35-33 margin. ETSU (9-6, 2-0 SoCon) finished the night shooting 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field but had an incredible night from long range. The Buccaneers connected on a school-record 60 percent from distance, hitting 15-of-25 from long range. ETSU also hit its final four 3-pointers of the game over the final 2:35 of action.
Ge'Lawn Guyn, a senior transfer at ETSU, led all scorers with 28 points in 36 minutes as he was 10-of-14 from the field, including 6-of-9 form 3-point land. Cromer added 20 points and six assists, including the game-winning 3-pointer as he was 3-of-5 from distance. Lester Wilson added 17 points off the bench, hitting five 3-pointes in the ETSU victory.
The Spartans opened the game quickly, staking out to a 9-2 lead when freshman guard Demetrius Troy (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) hit a 3-pointer. Alonso scored seven straight points as UNCG ran its lead to 21-8 when White converted an old-fashioned 3-point play.
ETSU responded with a 19-6 run to tie the game at 27-27. Comer scored 10 straight points to start the run, hitting a pair of 3-pointer while Guyn added a 3-pointer during the stretch. Guyn gave the Bucs a 40-39 lead heading into the locker room as he scored off a drive before Locke hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the tightly controlled affair.
UNCG connected on 41.9 percent (13-of-31) from the field and hit 6-of-13 (46.2%) from distance in the first half. Alonso led the way with 16 points while White chipped in nine and Locke seven points. ETSU finished the first half shooting 12-of-28 (42.9%) from the field and hit 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from distance. Comer led the Bucs with 10 first half points, all coming in the Bucs' rallying run.
The second half saw much of the same with the lead going back-and-forth as UNCG took a 55-53 lead with a basket by Alonso. ETSU posted a 6-1 spurt as Guyn and Wilson hit consecutive 3-pointers but the Spartans came back with eight straight of their own to take a 64-61 lead with 10:39 remaining. Junior guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) and Troy hit consecutive 3-pointers to put the Spartans in the lead.
UNCG would extend the lead to 70-64 with 6:29 left after Locke started to take over when White fouled out. The Bucs responded with six straight points, including another clutch 3-pointer from Guyn. The Spartans kept going to Locke, who scored 10 straight down the stretch, including a 3-point play for a 78-74 lead with 2:48 remaining.
The Buccaneers went to their strength down the stretch as Wilson hit a 3-pointer to narrow the gap to one but Locke again converted a 3-point play to push the lead to 81-77. Guyn again hit another long range shot but Locke responded with his 10th straight point to put UNCG in front 83-80 with 1:37 left. Guyn was incredible from the outside during the closing minutes, nailing another 3-pointer to tie the game at 83-83 with 1:10 remaining.
The Spartans would have the ball with the chance to take the lead under a minute to play. Baldwin drove the lane and his initial shot was short of the rim. The ball caromed around before Baldwin kicked it out to Alonso. He drained his 3-pointer but it was ruled just after the shot clock expired, resulting in a UNCG turnover.
ETSU held for the closing seconds before McClain drove the lane and kicked the ball to the corner. Comer was able to rise above his defender and drain a 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining for the lead. UNCG had one final chance to tie the game but Baldwin's 3-pointer rolled around the rim and out as the buzzer sounded.
Troy dished out a career-high seven assists in the loss while Baldwin had five helpers as the Spartans tallied 14 in the loss. Sophomore forward Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) added 10 points, all in the second half.
