BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team used a total team performance to dismantle Samford, 87-63, in a Southern Conference contest at Pete Hanna Arena Thursday night.
In winning its fourth consecutive road game, UNCG used the same formula for success: Dominating the second half. The Spartans made seven of their first nine shots after intermission. They scored a season-high 51 points in the second half and outscored Samford by 19.
The Spartans have controlled the second halves in their last four road games by holding teams to 29.8 percent shooting (34-for-114) from the field, 20.8 percent (10-for-48) from 3-point distance, and outscoring opponents, 192-125.
Isaiah Miller led UNCG with 18 points. He also became the fourth player in UNCG men's basketball history to score 1,600 career points when he hit a jumper from the elbow at 7:15 p.m. Central Standard Time, joining Kyle Hines,
Francis Alonso and Jay Joseph in the exclusive club. When the ball swished through the net, UNCG's lead expanded to 43-34 with 18:32 remaining.
Freshman
A.J. McGinnis, a Huntsville native, celebrated his return to his home state by tying his career high with 13 points.
Kaleb Hunter had a solid showing with 13 points as the Spartans earned a tough road win.
Mohammed Abdulsalam and
Hayden Koval finished with eight points each.
McGinnis supplied the spark needed to get the Spartans going in the first half by packaging eight points in an 11-0 burst in a one minute, 53 second burst that reversed a 9-6 deficit.
The way McGinnis shot in the first half, the lyrics to the popular song "Sweet Home Alabama" would've been ripe for a revision:
Sweet home Alabama.
Where the skies are so blue.
And A.J.'s shooting form is so true.
Sweet home Alabama.
A.J's happy to come home to you.
Of course, the highlight that will make UNCG
Wes Miller rewind the film and smile with joy was the charge McGinnis took with 8 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the first half. Abdulsalam also took a charge at the start of the second half.
The play of the game occurred during the second half when the Langley brothers teamed up for an amazing alley-oop.
Keyshaun Langley (nine points, three assists) tossed a pass to
Kobe Langley (five points, four assists) for a dunk that shook the gym to its core.
Records
UNCG 7-5 overall, 2-2 SoCon
Samford 5-6, 1-3
Inside the Numbers
- Miller also added eight rebounds, his third straight game with at least seven rebounds.
- Miller has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games and in 29 of UNCG's last 30 contests.
- Miller has at least one steal in 31 consecutive games.
- Miller has scored 1,606 career points.
- This was the third time this season McGinnis scored in double figures.
- Abdulsalam has nine games this season with at least six rebounds.
- Kaleb Hunter made a season best 3 3-pointers. He was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
- Hayden Koval finished with three blocked shots to increase his career total to 309.
- Koval is tied for 70th in college basketball in blocked shots with Alec Brown (Green Bay, 2011-14).
- The Spartans have won 59 games in the last five years by double digits.
- Under Wes Miller, the Spartans are 13-4 against Samford.
- UNCG tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers.
- The Spartans have made 11 3-pointers in consecutive SoCon road games.
- UNCG led by double digits for the final 16:19 after Angelo Allegri made a 3-pointer.
- Christian Guess scored 16 points to lead Samford.
- Samford won the battle of the benches, 43-32.
- This was the second straight game, UNCG held an opponent below 32 percent shooting.
- The Spartans turned 20 Samford turnovers into 18 points.
Up Next
- UNCG and Samford will meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
