CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The most memorable moment of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team's 77-56 victory over Western Carolina in a Southern Conference contest at the Ramsey Center Monday night occurred with a little over 12 minutes remaining.
Mohammed Abdulsalam hustled for a steal, raced the length of the floor and dunked with force over a Western Carolina defender to expand UNCG's lead to 16 points. Once Abdulsalam returned to Earth, the players resting on the Spartan bench detonated with delightful delirium.
A surge of satisfaction swept through everybody as they jumped for joy, hugged each other, danced with glee, and roared their approval with screams loud enough to be heard in Greensboro. The close-knit Spartans are a family and they celebrate each other. It's been one the hallmarks of the UNCG program since head coach
Wes Miller took control in 2011.
Overall, it was a fun night as the Spartans moved one step closer to their regular-season goal with a business-like performance of focused artistry.
Senior guard
Isaiah Miller and junior forward
Kaleb Hunter scored 15 points each to lead UNCG, which earned its 10th straight victory over the Catamounts.
Sophomore guard
Keyshaun Langley reached double digits in scoring for the sixth consecutive contest with 11 points. Freshman guard
A.J. McGinnis (10 points) and senior center
Hayden Koval combined for 19 points off of the bench.
Records
UNCG 17-7 overall, 12-4 SoCon
Western Carolina 9-15, 2-13
How It Happened
- UNCG scored 11 straight points to erase an early 2-0 deficit.
- Hunter's basket with 18:11 remaining gave UNCG the lead for good, 4-2.
- The Spartans ended the first half with a 12-3 burst to expand a 28-25 lead and grab a 12-point halftime lead.
- The run was capped by a Miller basket as the first half buzzer expired, his second such shot this season.
- UNCG ended any suspense by using another 11-0 run midway through the second half to open a 26-point bulge.
- Four different Spartans scored during the game-clinching run.
- Hunter, Miller, and Langley combined to score 24 of UNCG's 37 second half points.
- UNCG limited Western Carolina to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half.
- UNCG turned 17 Western Carolina turnovers into 27 points.
Inside The Numbers
- Miller had four steals to raise his career to 298.
- He had six assists for the second straight game.
- Miller has scored in double figures 23 times this season and 95 times in his career.
- Miller raised his career scoring total to 1,823 career points.
- This was the sixth game for McGinnis scoring in double figures.
- Hunter has scored in double figures 11 times this season and the 29th time in his career.
- Langley reached double figures for the 10th time this season.
- Over the last two seasons, Angelo Allegri has 28 games in which he's made multiple 3-pointers.
- The Spartans have won 65 games by double digits in the last five years.
- This was the seventh time this season that UNCG has limited an opponent below 60 points.
- The Spartans are 12-2 this season when holding opponents below 70 points.
- UNCG outscored Western Carolina, 19-6 in Fastbreak points.
- Abdulsalam, Allegri, and Miller had five rebounds each for the Spartans.
- Nine UNCG players scored.
- Western Carolina had three players reach double figures: Cory Hightower (15 points), Kameron Gibson (11, six rebounds), and Sin'Cere McMahon (10).
Up Next
- This was a make-up game from the originally scheduled Jan. 13 contest that was postponed. The two squads will play each other again on Wednesday in Greensboro at 7 p.m. The Spartans will celebrate Miller's phenomenal career prior to the start of the contest.
