SPARTAN ESSENTIALS
Who: Coppin State (0-4)
Where: Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Monday, November 15 | 7 p.m. 
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Listen
Game Notes: UNCG | Coppin State

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Championships are won in March. However, championship teams are constructed in November and December.
 
Nobody knows that better than first-year UNC Greensboro (UNCG) head men's basketball coach Mike Jones, who has built more than his share of championship teams during his successful career. He understands the diligence in the balance of providing growth chances for his players during the cauldron of tough road games and winning especially in this instant gratification culture.
 
Make no mistake, Jones wants to win each time he takes the floor. Yet, he has the big picture in mind as UNCG's season continues to unfold. He's still tinkering with rotations and seeing what players can handle difficult situations.
 
As the undefeated Spartans (2-0 overall) prepare to meet winless, but dangerous Coppin State (0-4) Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum, Jones has enjoyed watching his team fight for inches, grow, and conquer adversity.
 
These are traits that will serve UNCG well once Southern Conference play commences next month.
 
In beating North Carolina A&T and Northern Kentucky by a combined total of five points, Jones has gotten contributions from everybody associated with his program from the coaches to the managers to the players. The energy is real and it's contagious.
 
Being mentally tough has helped too. It's enabled the Spartans to rally from second-half deficits to win each game.
 
"The significance of these games is to build a team and for us to prepare ourselves for one of the best conferences in the country whether we win or lose," Jones said. "It's about how we play and establishing our identity on both ends of the floor, giving guys opportunities to get out there and show the work they are putting in during practice and on their own.
 
"It's a growth opportunity for all these guys. They love being part of UNCG basketball. They put their time in and deserve a chance to play and see what they can do. We'll make some decisions as we get closer to conference. Right now, we are trying to develop into the type of team we need to be to compete in the Southern Conference."
 
Coppin State-UNCG Glance

• This will be the third all-time meeting between these programs.
• Each team has won on its home floor.
• UNCG won the first matchup, 77-54, in the Greensboro Coliseum on Dec. 12, 2018. 
• The Eagles won the most recent contest, 86-80, last season in Baltimore on Dec. 10, 2020.
• In that game last year, Coppin State's Anthony Tarke put on a show with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
• Khyre Thompson led UNCG with a career-best 18 points in that setback.

 
A Look At UNCG

• Since the start of the 2015-16 season, UNCG is 75-21 in home games (77.8 winning percentage). 
• A win would give UNCG its first 3-0 start for the first time in its Division I era as a program.
• The last time UNCG started a season 3-0 was at the start of the 1982-83 season.
• UNCG has held the lead for a combined 6 minutes, 40 seconds in the second half and overtime through its first two games.
• UNCG has limited both of its opponents to under 36 percent shooting.
• Ten UNCG players marked the scoring column in the 70-69 overtime win over Northern Kentucky.
• De'Monte Buckingham has scored the eventual game-winning baskets in each of UNCG's first two games.
• Thompson had a career-best 11 rebounds in the win over NKU.
• Mohammed Abdulsalam's 13 points against NKU were two shy of his career-high.

 
A Look At Coppin State

• The Eagles are coached by Juan Dixon, who led Maryland to the 2002 NCAA national championship.
• Coppin State has been all over the map since the season started as this will be its fifth game in six days in its fourth state.
• The Eagles have lost to DePaul, Loyola (Ill.), Rider, and UConn.
• The most recent setback was an 89-54 decision to No. 24 UConn this past Saturday.
• Of course, the CSU roster is drastically different this season as only three players return.
• Jesse Zarzuela (14.5), Tyree Corbett (11.5), and Nendah Tarke (10.0) lead the Eagles in scoring.
• Nendah Tarke scored 20 points in last year's win over UNCG.

 
Up Next

• UNCG will compete in the Jersey Mike's Classic in Florida beginning Thursday when it plays Green Bay at 3 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.