ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – Keeping fans on the edge of their seats, UNCG dropped its final game of the Jersey Mike's Classic to Florida International University (FIU) Sunday night, 74-71, in its third overtime game of the season.
Despite three Spartans recording double-digit points, it was not enough as the Panthers won their fourth-straight game. FIU went a perfect 3-0 at the classic.
This was the first meeting between the Spartans and the Panthers.
Records
UNCG 4-2
FIU 4-1
How It Happened
- The two teams traded baskets for most of the first half, with each team seeing a one-point advantage at a point in the first nine minutes.
- Dante Treacy's only three-pointer of the game with 9:37 remaining in the first half got off right at the shot-clock buzzer for UNCG to take its third lead of the game, 19-18.
- UNCG held its largest lead of the half with 5:39 remaining.
- The Spartan extended its lead to 10, 29-19, after a 15-2 run.
- FIU persisted putting up eight-straight points including back-to-back threes, cutting its deficit to two, 29-27, with 3:57 remaining in the half.
- Mohammed Abdulsalam put the Spartans up five, 37-32 with 17-seconds left after an and-one play.
- FIU capitalized on a UNCG turnover, scoring two baskets to earn a one-point lead heading to the locker room, 37-36.
- The Panthers went up six after halftime with a 10-3 run, 46-40.
- There were eight tied scores between the second half and the overtime period.
- FIU went on a 9-6 run in overtime to secure its third tournament win.
- Four Panthers recorded double-digit points: Clevon Brown (18), Javaunte Hawkins (15), Denver Jones (14), and Tevin Brewer (14).
By the Numbers
- Graduate student De'Monte Buckingham tallied a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, for his second double-double of the season.
- This is his fourth-straight game with double-digit boards.
- Bas Leyte scored a career-best 15 points, added eight rebounds and two steals.
- Graduate student Kaleb Hunter chipped in five points and four boards.
- Dante Treacy notched 13 points. This is his third-straight game with double-digit points.
- Mohammed Abdulsalam added seven points and five rebounds.
- UNCG outrebounded FIU 42-36.
- The Spartans have outrebounded all six of their opponents this season.
Buckingham on the game
"This game definitely was an intense game, back and forth with a lot of scoring. It was definitely difficult to get stops at times but, I think this game is going to get us back on the right path. We took two loses and it is hard on us right now, but I feel like going back to Greensboro we are going to get back to practice and going to work together to get it right."
Final Word
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on the battle
"It feels like the movie Groundhog Day. We are playing these same games over and over again. Down to the wire, one-possession games, so much hinging on each and every possession and tonight more than any game we played so far, we did not make smart plays. I thought our effort was there, we gave ourselves a chance to win, but it probably shouldn't have been that close for us if we make smarter plays on both sides of the ball. It's early in the season and hopefully we can learn from it, and it can pay dividends when we get to conference play."
On learning from this game and coming home for 3 games
"I think there were some clear possessions where we did what we talked about doing and we made them do what we wanted them to do then good things happened for us. Then the other possessions when we didn't, good things happened for them. It is just a matter of being disciplined. We have a team of guys who are playing together for the first time. A lot of them playing quality minutes for the first time. So, that's a part of the learning process, is for them to be out there, make those mistakes while the game is going on and hopefully they learn from them, and going forward they don't make those mistakes going forward. Overall, I am proud of the way, at this point in the season, six games in, how they are trying to execute what we are asking them to and the level that they are competing at."
Up Next
UNCG returns to North Carolina for a three-game homestand, hosting North Carolina Wesleyan first one Wednesday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
