GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's basketball team begins the second half of Southern Conference play Thursday night as the Spartans host VMI. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Greensboro Coliseum and will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with Scott Pryzwansky and Darryl Kosciak on the call.
The Spartans enter Thursday's game tied for second in the SoCon with a 7-2 overall record while owning a 16-6 overall mark. UNCG had its five-game winning streak snapped with a double overtime loss at Chattanooga Monday night by an 87-85 margin. The Spartans suffered through foul trouble all night with five players fouling out, including four starters leaving the game early.
Thursday's game marks the 23rd meeting all-time between UNCG and VMI. The Spartans are 14-8 all-time against the Keydets, including a 6-1 record against VMI since it returned to the Southern Conference in the 2014-15 season. Earlier this year, UNCG picked up a 63-61 win in Lexington. The Spartans picked up the win despite not making a field goal the final 8:10 of the game and shooting just 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from the field in the second half and going 0-of-14 from 3-point land in the final 20 minutes. UNCG came up with clutch stops on the defensive end and hit 10 of its last 11 from the free throw line, including a pair from junior guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) with 3.7 seconds remaining to give the Spartans the lead.
Alonso finished the game with a game-high 19 points as he was 6-of-7 from the free throw line and hit three 3-pointers, all in the first half. Sophomore forward James Dickey (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) added 14 points and nine rebounds, as he was 4-of-11 from the field. Dickey connected on 6-of-7 from the free throw line, including his last four in the closing minutes.
VMI connected on 38.8 percent (19-of-49) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from deep in the game while committing 12 turnovers. UNCG dominated the glass by a 43-28 margin, including 13 offensive rebounds. Bubba Parham led the Keydets with 19 points as he was 6-of-9 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Austin Vereen shook off a slow start to finish with 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Vereen had the Keydets' look at a game-winning shot at the buzzer as he half court heave was only inches off the mark.
UNCG is 11-1 at home this season, including a 4-0 mark in SoCon play. The Spartans are averaging 73.8 points per game this year while shooting 44.4 percent (576-of-1296) from the field and 36.2 percent (217-of-600) from 3-point land. Opponents are averaging 63.8 points per game while shooting 41.7 percent (460-of-1103) from the field and 31.9 percent (138-of-433) from deep.
Alonso leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game and leads the team with 81 made 3-pointers, connecting on 45 percent from deep. He is shooting 87.3 percent (62-of-71) from the free throw line. Senior forward Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game while grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game. Smith is second on the team with 46 made 3-pointers, connecting on 32.9 percent. Dickey leads the league on the glass with 8.1 rebounds per game while adding 8.4 points per game.
Freshman guard Isaiah Miller (Covington, Ga./Newton) turned in 7.8 points per game off the bench. Miller is shooting 52.1 percent (74-of-142) from the field and has forced 29 steals. Senior forward Jordy Kuiper (Groningen, Netherlands/Canaries Basketball Academy) adds 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 32.9 percent (24-of-73) from distance. Junior guard Demetrius Troy (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) leads the team with 91 assists while adding 6.3 points per game.
VMI enters Thursday's game with a 7-14 overall record and a 2-8 mark in Southern Conference play. The Keydets have won two out of their last four games with wins over The Citadel and Chattanooga. VMI is 2-9 on the road this year and 1-4 in league play with its lone win coming at Chattanooga. The Keydets are averaging 65.7 points per game while shooting 41 percent (483-of-1179) from the field and 33.8 percent (160-of-474) from distance. Opponents are averaging 73.2 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent (539-of-1205) from the field and 33.7 percent (158-of-469) from deep.
Parham leads the Keydets in scoring at 15.1 points per game. He has hit 44 3-pointers, connecting on 36.1 percent and has also gone to the free throw line 80 times, hitting at 83.8 percent. Vereen is second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game while grabbing 4.6 rebounds per game. Vereen has hit 40 3-pointers, connecting on 38.1 percent. Tyler Creammer leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game while adding 7.5 points per game.
-- UNCG --
