SPARTAN ESSENTIALS
Who: Chattanooga (14-4, 4-1)
Where: Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Thursday, January 20, 2022 | 7 p.m. 
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Listen
Game Notes: UNCG | Chattanooga

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The old axiom is that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.
 
If you want to watch a pair of dynamite defensive teams with championship mindsets get after one another then Thursday's night battle between first-place Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro (UNCG) is for you.
 
This game features the top two scoring defenses in the Southern Conference. The Spartans are first and the Mocs' are second. 
 
Last Time Out

• De'Monte Buckingham scored 18 points to lead UNCG during a 58-49 loss at Mercer last Saturday.
• Malachi Smith knocked down a pair of go-ahead free throws with 7.6 seconds left and secured the game-winning defensive stop to lift Chattanooga to a thrilling 71-69 win over Furman.

 
A Look At UNCG

• UNCG is 12th in the nation in rebounding margin (+8.6) and 40th in scoring defense (62.9).
• The Spartans are second in the SoCon in field goal percentage defense.
• The Spartans have held five of their last six opponents below 60 points.
• Bas Leyte has scored in double figures in three of UNCG's last four games.
• Buckingham leads UNCG in scoring at 13.4 points per game.
• Kaleb Hunter chips in 8.3 points per contest.
• Kobe Langley scores at a 7.5 point per game clip.
• He is seventh in the SoCon in steals per game and eighth in assists per game.
• UNCG is 6-1 at home.

 
A Look At Chattanooga

• The Mocs are the SoCon preseason favorites.
• Smith is the Mocs' leading scorer at 21.5 points per contest, a mark that is also the best in the SoCon.
• He has tallied 12th games of at least 20 or more points.
• Smith has scored at least 20 points in four straight games and seven of his last eight.
• Smith is the only SoCon player averaging at least 20 points per game.
• Silvio DeSousa leads the SoCon in field goal percentage (57.1).
• David Jean Baptiste (14.6 points per game) and DeSousa (12.2) also average double digits for the Mocs.
• Jean Baptiste has made 51 of Chattanooga's 151 3-pointers.
• Chattanooga has four players with at least 40 assists.

 
Series History

• Chattanooga leads the series, 26-24.
• UNCG won both matchups last season, including a 60-55 decision in the last meeting between the two programs on Feb. 15, 2021 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
• Mohammed Abdulsalam scored 13 of his career-high tying 15 points in the second half and Keyshaun Langley tallied nine of his 11 after halftime to UNCG rally from a 10-point second half deficit. 

 
Up Next

• UNCG hosts Samford on Saturday at 5 p.m.

NOTES: The game is a "Blackout" themed contest with the first 1,000 students receiving a black t-shirt courtesy of University Village … It's also First Responders Night where all first responders receive free admission … In addition, guests of first responders will receive the $8 discounted ticket rate for admission into the contest … During halftime, UNCG Athletics will recognize all of the student-athletes who earned distinction on the Fall Athletic Director Honor Roll.