NEWARK, DEL. – UNC Greensboro men's basketball will continue non-conference action this weekend when the Spartans play two games that are part of the Delaware Invitational.
On Friday night, UNCG will face Delaware for a 7 p.m. tip. The next day, the Spartans will face Louisiana Tech for a 5 p.m. start.
Friday night's game will be streamed on YouTube.
Five Facts To Know
--The Spartans on Friday night will be seeking a 5-1 start for just the fifth time in program history and for the first time in 17 years. UNCG has previously started 5-1 during the 1986-87, 1994-95, 1999-00 and 2001-02 seasons. If UNCG is able to win both games this weekend, it would mark the first 6-1 start in program history.
--Senior guard Demetrius Troy (331) needs just two more assists to move into seventh place in career assists in program history. Ronnie Taylor (332) currently ranks in seventh for career assists.
--Senior guard Francis Alonso is currently 49th in the country in points per game (21.0), as the Malaga, Spain, native has scored at least 18 points in every game this season.
--Delaware (4-1) is one of the toughest teams on the defensive side of the floor so far this season. Through five games, the Blue Hens are allowing opponents to shoot just 19.5 percent from three-point land, the second lowest percentage in the country through Tuesday night's action. In terms of total field goal defense, Delaware ranks 15th in the country (35.5 percent) in that category.
--Louisiana Tech's (4-1) lone loss this year, like UNCG, came against top-25 ranked LSU. The Bulldogs opened the season with a victory over Wichita State and have also defeated Sam Houston State, Harding and Tougaloo.
The Spartans In 2018
UNCG is off to a 4-1 start for the second straight season after the Spartans knocked off Prairie View A&M 74-66 on Monday night. Despite trailing for most of the game, UNCG was able pull away from the Panthers late for a third straight victory.
Through five games, Alonso is one of three players averaging double digits in scoring along with junior forward Kyrin Galloway (15.6) and sophomore guard Isaiah Miller (13.6).
Junior forward James Dickey, meanwhile, leads the team in both rebounds (7.6) and blocks (2.6) per game.
Series History
Friday night's game against Delaware will be the Spartan's seventh all-time meeting with the Blue Hens. After UNCG scored a 79-66 victory over Delaware last year, the series is knotted at 3-3.
Against Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, the Spartans have only faced the Bulldogs one previous time, a 99-62 loss on Nov. 25, 2013.
Upcoming For The Spartans
Following this weekend's action, the Spartans will return to the court on Tuesday evening to host Greensboro College in pursuit of a program-record 13th consecutive home victory.
-- UNCG –
