Who	UNCG (13-5, 8-2) at Furman (11-6, 5-3)
When	Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, 5:00 p.m.
Where	Timmons Arena -- Greenville, S.C.
Series History	UNCG leads 20-18
Last Meeting	Furman 81, UNCG 67
Watch	ESPNU
Live Stats	CLICK HERE
Listen Live	TUNEIN RADIO
Game Notes	UNCG / Furman

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Here's the best visual of what it's like playing against the defense of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team.
 
As you exit the New Jersey Turnpike, your transmission dies leaving you stranded on an exit ramp. It's midnight. Your cell phone is on two percent. And Triple A's line is busy. And it's raining hard. And you have no flare.
 
Now, a national television audience will get to witness the savage UNCG defense, a fercoius force that's fueled UNCG's seven-game winning streak. By the way, the first-place Spartans have also won seven straight road games, which is tied for the third-longest streak in the nation.
 
The next two games between Furman and UNCG will be broadcast live on ESPNU, both beginning at 5 p.m. It's a great opportunity for the country to see two of the best teams in the Southern Conference. This will be UNCG's second trip to Greenville in two weeks.
 
UNCG is alone in first place despite not having any players win any weekly SoCon awards.
 
The Spartan defense has been fantastic over its last eight games, methodically squeezing the life out of opponents like a boa constrictor. The numbers are phenomenal. Only three of the last eight UNCG opponents have scored at least 70 points. And those teams lost by double digits.
 
It should be a fascinating clash of styles when the best defense in the Southern Conference meets the best offense. It's UNCG's grit and grind against Furman's glitz and glamour in a pair of crucial contests beginning in Greenville. The Spartans are excited about the challenges the talent Paladin offense will create. 
 
Furman and UNCG will be well-acquainted with each other by the time the lights flicker off at the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday night.
 
During its winning streak, UNCG has been stingy late in the game.
 
It held Chattanooga to nine points in the final eight minutes. It limited Mercer to eight points over the last seven minutes. VMI scored 18 points in the last 13 minutes. The Citadel tallied 10 points in the final 10 minutes. Samford scored four points in the last five minutes.
 
Earlier this season, it permitted Norfolk State to 20 points in the second half and Wofford 15 points in the first half.
 
During UNCG's current seven-game winning streak, it has held opponents to 66.4 points per game, 40.9 percent shooting, and 26.8 percent from 3-point distance. The Spartans have also outscored opponents, 306-218, in the second half.
 
Opponents will probably argue it's easier to escape one of Jigsaw's traps than it is to solve the Spartan dynamite defense.
 
Inside the Numbers

• The Spartans will play eight games over the next 19 days to finish the regular season.
• UNCG has held its last four opponents below 70 points.
• UNCG leads the SoCon in field goal percentage defense (40.8).
• The Spartans are No. 1 in the SoCon in 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.2).
• UNCG leads the SoCon in rebounding (40.9).
• The Spartans are the best in the SoCon in rebounding margin (+4.9), offensive rebounding (13.8), and turnover margin (+3.33).
• This could be a big week for Isaiah Miller, who leads the SoCon in steals.
• Miller has 280 career steals.
• Hayden Koval leads the SoCon in blocks. He has 320 in his career.
• Mohammed Abdulsalam leads the conference in offensive rebounding.
• In its win over The Citadel, Kaleb Hunter scored a season-high 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting.
• Hunter has scored in double figures in five of UNCG's last seven games.
• Furman saw its 19-game home winning streak at Timmons Arena come to an end with a 75-67 loss to Wofford Saturday.
• Clay Mounce scored 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to notch his third double-double of the season.
• Alex Hunter totaled 15 points and six assists. 
• Noah Gurley recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards for the Paladins, who lead the SoCon in field goal perentage (49.1) and are second in scoring (81.9).