HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – De'Monte Buckingham was in the perfect place at the right time.
His offensive rebound and basket with 21 seconds remaining helped the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team edge Northern Kentucky, 70-69, in an overtime thriller at BB&T Arena in a non-conference contest Friday night.
The Spartans' second victory in as many outings of the young season wasn't secured until they made a final defensive stand. Off to its first 2-0 start since the 2015-16 season, UNCG has won both of its games by a combined four points, an example of the type of team it is becoming: gritty, tenacious, resilient, and always fighting for inches.
Fans were treated to a war of attrition as each team competed with blast-furnace intensity. Every shot was a tough one. Passes disappeared in a thicket of hands. Drives to the basket drew thudding contact. If scores of shots didn't fall, plenty of bodies did.
Records
UNCG 2-0
Northern Kentucky 1-1
Quotable
Senior forward Mohammed Abdulsalam on the victory.
"This is a big win for us. I loved the type of win it was for us because we really had to grind and dig. I felt like it took all 11 guys tonight to get this done in this environment. We were locked in all game from the bench to the guys on the floor and it was huge. I really loved it. This was an amazing game to play in and we were ready for that moment tonight."
Abdulsalam on the contributions of the everybody.
"That makes me happy because I've known these guys for the last three or four years. Some of these guys had been on the scout team so I knew what these guys could do. Seeing them on the big stage making major plays and hooping gives me goosebumps. I am so happy for them. We are meshing into the type of team we can be. I am so excited to be part of this team."
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on the victory.
"Wow. That was a fun college basketball game. I was proud of how our guys responded. They got up and stayed even keel. Our guys withstood their opening punch of the second half and we didn't get knocked out. We stood up and came back. I was proud of the resolve and resiliency they showed tonight and that was impressive. That's what fight for inches looks like."
How It Happened
- Despite battling foul trouble Mohammed Abdulsalam led UNCG with 13 points.
- His basket with three seconds remaining in regulation tied the contest at 64 and forced overtime.
- Buckingham finished with 11 points.
- Bas Leyte added nine points and Khyre Thompson grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
- Kaleb Hunter had eight points including the Spartans' first dunk of the 2021-22 season at 7:34 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
- Kobe Langley scored four of UNCG's six overtime points.
- Everybody's best was needed as UNCG survived Northern Kentucky guard Trevon Faulker's 28-point performance.
- His 3-point attempt inside of halfcourt nearly won the game at the buzzer. The ball hit the front of the rim, bounced high off the glass, and hit the rim again before falling to the honey-colored floor.
- The Spartans won this game by staying together and not getting rattled after NKU opened the game by making its first five baskets, started the second half by scoring the first 12 points, or when they only scored five points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
- UNCG remained strong when it trailed 52-45 with 7:54 remaining. That's when J.C. Tharrington came through with a clutch 3-pointer and forced a turnover on NKU's next possession that led to an Abdulsalam basket 51 seconds later.
- UNCG enjoyed a 38-28 halftime advantage.
- Trailing, 18-14, UNCG took control with a 9-0 run capped by a Tharrington 3-pointer.
Inside The Numbers
- UNCG's defense limited NKU to 4-of-21 shooting and 10 points over the final 13 minutes of the first half.
- For the second straight game, five UNCG players had at least five rebounds.
- Buckingham and Leyte had six rebounds each.
- Jalen White and Abdulsalam claimed five caroms each.
- Hunter had two blocked shots.
- UNCG held NKU to 35.3 percent shooting (23-for-65).
- Langley (four) and Tharrington combined for seven assists.
- Nine different Spartans scored in the first half.
- UNCG pounded NKU in the paint, 40-18.
- The Spartans won the battle of the benches, 29-15.
- Buckingham has 1,333 career points.
Up Next
- UNCG hosts Coppin State at the Greensboro Coliseum Monday night at 7 p.m.
