ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNCG men's basketball enters the 2016 Southern Conference Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference as the Spartans have won five-straight games. The sixth-seeded Spartans received a first round bye and will open play against third-seeded Furman Saturday night. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with Darren Goldwater and Dean Keener on the call. Additionally, the game will be broadcast on 1320 WCOG AM and online via Tune In with Scott Pryzwansky and Darryl Kosciak calling the game.
UNCG's five-game winning streak is its longest winning streak since winning seven-straight games in the 2011-12 season. The Spartans ride the longest current winning streak into the weekend, joining East Tennessee State on five-game runs while Western Carolina has won four straight games. The Spartans finished the regular season with a 14-17 overall record and a 10-8 mark in SoCon play. Their 10-8 league record is the best finish for UNCG since the 2011-12 season in head coach Wes Miller's interim season.
The Spartans will be making their 17th appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament this weekend. UNCG is 15-16 all-time in the SoCon Tournament, winning the event in 2001. The Spartans were also in the championship game in 2005, falling to Chattanooga. UNCG has advanced to the SoCon Tournament semifinals seven times -- 2013, 2012, 2008, 2005, 2002, 2001 and 1998. The Spartans have won a game in the tournament 11 times in program history, including a win on five out of the last six years.
UNCG and Furman have met three times prior to Saturday in the SoCon Tournament. The Spartans posted a 66-65 victory in 2010 in Charlotte in the first round. The Paladins won in 73-71 in the quarterfinals in 2007 in North Charleston and won in the first round 73-61 in 2000 in Greenville. Saturday's game marks the 29th meeting all-time between UNCG and Furman. The series is evenly matched, deadlocked at 14-14 between the teams, which have split the season series the last two years with the home team winning the last four match ups.
This year, UNCG posted a 67-66 victory over the Paladins in Greensboro in January while Furman tallied a 79-72 victory in Greenville in February. The Spartans connected on 42.6 percent (49-of-115) in the two games against Furman, including just 27.7 percent (13-of-47) from 3-point land. Furman connected on 43.1 percent (47-of-109) from the field in the season series and hit 37 percent (17-of-46) from distance.
Senior forward Kayel Locke (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) led the way with 17.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in the two games. Locke connected on 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field against the Paladins. Junior center R.J. White (Frisco, Texas/Frisco) averaged 13.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as he hit 10-of-21 (47.6%) from the field. Freshman guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) was limited to just 8.0 points and shot only 3-of-10 (30%) from distance against the Paladins. Stephen Croone led the Paladins, averaging 22.0 points as he shot 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the field and hit 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the free throw line. Kris Acox average 10.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game against the Spartans while Matt Rafferty and Daniel Fowler added 8.0 points each.
Four different Spartans are averaging double figures in scoring this year. Alonso, a SoCon All-Freshman selection, leads the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. He has scored in double figures 21 times this year, including six games with over 20 points. He is shooting 41 percent (82-of-200) and his 82 3-pointers made ranks second in the league this year. Locke is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game while grabbing 5.5 rebounds per game. is shooting 45.7 percent (154-of-337) from the field.
White, a First Team All-SoCon selection, adds 12.2 points per game as he is shooting 62.0 percent (152-of-245) from the field. He also leads the team on the glass grabbing 7.1 caroms per game. Junior guard Diante Baldwin (Greensboro, N.C./High Point Christian) rounds out the Spartans averaging double figures at 11.5 points per game. Baldwin leads the team with 156 assists while grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) chips in 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Furman enters the Southern Conference Tournament with a 17-14 overall record and an 11-7 mark in league play. The Paladins finished tied with Wofford for third place but owned the tiebreaker with their victory over Chattanooga. Furman is 13-1 at home this season but just 4-13 outside of Greenville. The Paladins finished the season with three straight losses at Wofford, at East Tennessee State and at Western Carolina. Prior to the final three-game stretch, Furman had won eight of nine games.
Stephen Croone was named the SoCon Player of the Year this week. Croone led the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game while handing out 71 assists. He connected on 39 3-pointers while heading to the free throw line 225 times, hitting 78.2 percent Devin Sibley added 11.1 points per game and hit 3 3-pointers. Sibley also got to the free throw line this season, hitting 65.7 percent (71-of-108) from the charity stripe.
Kris Acox added 8.8 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game as he shot 62.6 percent (119-of-190) from the field. Matt Rafferty added 8.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, making his way onto the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Daniel Fowler added 29 made 3-pointers while Geoff Beans connected on 39 from long range.
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