Who	UNCG (5-4, 0-1) at Wofford (5-3, 2-0)
When	Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
Where	Jerry A. Richardson Arena -- Spartanburg, S.C.
Series History	Wofford leads 29-17
Last Meeting	UNCG 83, Wofford 79, OT (Feb 19, 2020)
Watch	ESPN+ /
Live Stats	FOLLOW HERE
Listen Live	TUNEIN RADIO
Game Notes	UNCG / Wofford

GREENSBORO, N.C. – There's an old Chinese proverb that says, "The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."
 
Perhaps, whoever coined those words of wisdom, may or may not have had the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team in mind. Regardless, the Spartans are enduring a trial as they prepare for their next Southern Conference (SoCon) challenge against Wofford on the road.
 
It's literally, out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Spartans. After dropping their conference opener against East Tennessee State, the Spartans start a stretch of grueling games in which five of seven are on the road.
 
Wofford hasn't been one of the most popular destinations for success lately for the Spartans, who have lost five of their last six games in Spartanburg. UNCG's last win at Wofford was in 2018. The Terriers have captured three of the last four meetings against the Spartans. Both games last season were decided in overtime.
 
With Wofford off to a 2-0 start in conference and UNCG having lost its opener to East Tennessee State, this game is important. Furman and ETSU are also 2-0 to begin the SoCon season.
 
Nothing is ever easy in the SoCon easy especially since it is one of only six conferences to have every team ranked within the top 200 in the country in the latest NCAA NET rankings, a critical metric the NCAA selection committee uses when considering teams for the NCAA Tournament. The others are the American Athletic, ACC, Big East, Big Ten and SEC.
 
The Spartans wouldn't have it any other way.
 
While some people struggle to overcome challenges, others seem to meet them with confidence. When March arrives, UNCG may be thankful for the challenges and look back on this stretch of games with a smile.
 
Inside the Numbers

• In the latest NET rankings, Wofford is 88th (which is second in the SoCon) and UNCG is 176th.
• As a team, UNCG is seventh nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15.4), 17th in rebounding (42.8), 35th in blocks per game (4.8), and 37th in blocked shots (43) as of Jan. 3, 2021.
• Isaiah Miller, who scored 24 points against ETSU, leads the SoCon in steals (2.1), and is second in scoring (19.1), ninth in assists (3.6), and 11th in field goal percentage (47.4).
• Kaleb Hunter leads the conference in offensive rebounding (3.0).
• Mohammed Abdulsalam has grabbed at least six rebounds in five straight games. He is eighth overall in the conference in rebounding (6.6).
• Wofford's Storm Murphy leads the SoCon in free-throw percentage (87.5), and is second in assists (5.4), fourth in scoring (18.0), and 14th in field-goal percentage (52.2).
• Tray Hollowell is fourth in 3-pointers made per game (3.4) and Messiah Jones is ninth in rebounding (6.5).
• Wofford is second in the SoCon in scoring defense (64.6), field goal percentage (49.8), rebounding margin (+8.7), and third in field goal percentage defense (41.6).

 
Up Next

• The Spartans host Mercer at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m.