GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's basketball team returns home for two-straight games beginning Saturday evening as the Spartans welcome in Western Carolina. The game will be played on campus in Fleming Gymnasium at 5 p.m. The game will be the fourth this season for the Spartans in Fleming but the first against an NCAA Division I opponent. Saturday's game will be aired on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with Pete Yanity and Darryl Kosciak on the call.
The Spartans enter Saturday's game alone in second place in the Southern Conference standings with a 9-2 league record and an 18-6 mark overall. UNCG has won seven out of its last eight games, including an impressive 80-67 on the road at Furman Wednesday night. The Spartans are in the midst of closing the regular season with a stretch of eight games in 18 days, including three in six days this week.
The Spartans own a 12-1 record at home in Greensboro this year and a 3-0 mark in Fleming Gymnasium. The 12 home wins are tied for second-most in a single-season, trailing only a 13-4 home record set last year. Additionally, the Spartans' 18-6 overall record marks the ninth-most wins in a single season overall in program history. The Spartans' 43 wins over the last two years are tied for the most wins in consecutive season in program history (1994-96).
Saturday's game marks the 53rd meeting all-time between UNCG and Western Carolina. The Spartans trail the all-time series by a 32-20 margin but have won four-straight against the Catamounts -- two each in Greensboro and Cullowhee. Earlier this season, the Spartans posted a 66-55 victory over WCU at the Ramsey Center, marking the second-straight win in that building. Senior forward Marvin Smith (Richmond, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) scored a career-high 24 points, connecting on 9-of-15 from the field, including three 3-pointers, while hitting all three of his free throws. He also grabbed nine rebounds and posted two steals in 32 minutes of action. Junior guard Francis Alonso (Malaga, Spain/Cushing Academy) added 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half, as he was 4-of-11 from distance, with all those coming in the second half.
The Spartans dominated the glass in the victory, out-rebounding the Catamounts 36-19 in the victory. UNCG had as many offensive rebounds as Western Carolina had defensive rebounds (14) on the night. UNCG shook off a tough first half shooting performance with a strong a second half as the Spartans finished shooting 49.1 percent (26-of-53) from the field and 31 percent (9-of-29) from 3-point land. The Spartans hit eight of their nine 3-pointers in the second half. Western Carolina was held to 39.5 percent (15-of-38) shooting from the field and connected on just 20-of-29 (69%) form the free throw line. Mike Amius led the Catamounts with 19 points while Deriece Parks hit 4-of-7 from deep to finish with 12 points.
UNCG is averaging 74.0 points per game this season while shooting 44.6 percent (632-of-1416) from the field and 35.9 percent (235-of-655) from 3-point land. Opponents are averaging just 63.4 points per game while shooting 42 percent (503-of-1197) from the field and 32 percent (151-of-472) from deep.
Alonso leads the team and ranks second in the SoCon in scoring at 16.9 points per game. He leads the team with 85 made 3-pointers, connecting on 43.6 percent from deep. He is also shooting 87.7 percent (64-of-73) from the free throw line. Smith is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game while ranking second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game. He has connected on 51 3-pointers this year, hitting at 33.3 percent.
Sophomore forward James Dickey (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) leads the SoCon on the glass grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game while adding 8.7 points per game. Dickey is shooting 53.7 percent (80-of-149) from the field. Freshman guard Isaiah Miller (Covington, Ga./Newton) adds 7.8 points per game off the bench and is second on the team with 31 assists. Miller is shooting 80-of-144 (55.5%) on 2-point shots this season. Senior forward Jordy Kuiper (Groningen, Netherlands/Canaries Basketball Academy) adds 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while ranking third on the team with 28 3-pointers. Junior guard Demetrius Troy (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) leads the team with 97 assists and has a league best 2.35 assist/turnover ratio in league play. Troy adds 6.5 points per game and has also hit 28 3-pointers.
Western Carolina enters Saturday's game with a 12-13 overall record and a 7-5 mark in Southern Conference play. The Catamounts are currently tied with Furman for fourth place overall. WCU has won three-straight games with wins over Chattanooga, Samford and VMI. The Catamounts are 3-10 on the road this year with wins over VMI, Chattanooga and The Citadel Western Carolina is averaging 69.1 points per game while shooting 41.2 percent (609-of-1477) from the field and 34.7 percent (190-of-547) from 3-point land. Opponents are averaging 74.7 points per game while shooting 45.6 percent (649-of-1424) from the field and 34.7 percent (210-of-605) from distance.
Mike Amius leads the Catamounts in scoring at 12.7 points per game while grabbing a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game. Amius is shooting 54.3 percent (119-of-219) from the field and has gone to the free throw line a team-high 123 ties. Deriece Parks is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game and leads the team with 74 assists. Parks has hit a team-high 56 3-pointers, connecting on 35 percent. Matt Halvorsen adds 8.9 points per game and is shooting 34 percent (49-of-144) from distance. Marc Gosselin adds 6.0 rebounds and 8.2 points per game while Devin Peterson chips in 7.3 points per game.
-- UNCG --
