GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team leaned on its defense to squeeze out a 64-47 victory over visiting Norfolk State in a non-conference contest at the Greensboro Coliseum Sunday afternoon.
UNCG's defense was fantastic, especially in the second half. Clogging driving lanes and relentlessly surrounding ballhandlers, UNCG reduced Norfolk State's offense to an ineffective fog of frustration and confusion by limiting the visitors to 20 points on 23.8 percent shooting.
The home Spartans set the tone immediately in the second half when they blasted out of the locker room by transforming two steals into five points. Not just any steals. Live ball steals that led to consecutive fast break baskets from
Keyshaun Langley and
Mohammed Abdulsalam, helping UNCG regain its defensive swagger.
"It feels good to be back in the win column," UNCG head men's basketball coach
Wes Miller said. "We had lost three straight games, so it hadn't felt real good lately. I am proud of the guys for finding a way to win a game. That's a pretty good basketball team that we beat.
"We got back to looking like ourselves tonight. I feel like we guarded tonight with more energy, ferocity, and passion.
Isaiah Miller set the tone defensively for us tonight. His defensive energy was there from the first possession."
UNCG terminated its three-game skid thanks to a balanced offensive performance highlighted by 17 points from Miller and
Kaleb Hunter's third career double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds).
Khyre Thompson added 12 points and
Mohammed Abdulsalam finished with nine points.
Miller became the ninth player in UNCG history to top the 1,500-point mark for his career. This feat was accomplished with 10 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the first half on a foul shot at 2:28 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Later in the game, Miller moved past Yusef Stewart and into eighth on UNCG all-time scoring list when he put home a missed shot. He has 1,516 career points and 253 steals. Miller also enhanced his performance with six rebounds and five assists.
"It's an honor to score 1,500 points," Miller said. "I never thought I'd score that many when I started my career here, but here I am."
Inside the Boxscore
- This was the first time UNCG held a Division I opponent below 50 points since it beat Appalachian State, 55-41, on Nov. 18, 2019.
- This was UNCG's 57th victory by double figures since the start of the 2016-17 season.
- This was UNCG's 68th home triumph since the start of the 2015-16 season.
- Norfolk State missed its first nine shots after intermission and didn't make its first basket until 10:28 remained in the game.
- UNCG outscored Norfolk State, 22-10, over the final 9:12.
- Hayden Koval had four blocked shots, the fourth game this season in which he finished with at least rejections.
- UNCG had 16 offensive rebounds.
- Norfolk State got 14 points each from J.J. Matthews and Devante Carter.
- UNCG has had at least three players finish with at least five rebounds in every game this season.
- Abdulsalam and Thompson had six rebounds each.
Up Next
- UNCG hosts another set of Spartans on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from USC Upstate. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
