SPARTAN ESSENTIALS
Who: VMI (9-6, 2-1)
Where: Cameron Hall | Lexington, Va.
When: Saturday, January 8, 2022 | 1 p.m. 
Watch (ESPN News) | Live Stats | Listen
Game Notes: UNCG | VMI

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team will literally be under siege by a barrage of Virginia Military Institute 3-point shot attempts when it makes its annual trip to Cameron Hall Saturday afternoon.
 
The 3-point shot has been the Spartans kryptonite this season.
 
In all five losses, opponents have made at least 10 triples against the vaunted UNCG defense. Three of those setbacks, however, were by four points or less. UNCG's only win this season over a team that made 10 3-pointers was an overtime triumph over Northern Kentucky.
 
VMI's offense is simple but difficult to defend. With a bunch of Steph Curry's on their team, the Keydets spread you out, play inside out through Jake Stephens, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, and make the extra pass that usually results in an open 3-point shot attempt.
 
Last Time Out

• De'Monte Buckingham and Mohammed Abdulsalam combined for 25 points in UNCG's 58-54 loss to Furman on Wednesday night.
• Stephens posted his 11th double-double of the season (29 points, 15 minutes) for VMI during an 80-79 road setback to East Tennessee State.

 
A Look At UNCG

• The Spartans lead the SoCon in rebounding margin (+11.2).
• UNCG is sixth in the NCAA in rebounding margin.
• UNCG is second in the SoCon in scoring defense (63.6) and third in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
• The Spartans may be the only team in the country that has scored the same number of points as it has allowed (827), which is interesting.
• UNCG has held two straight opponents below 60 points.
• Overall, UNCG has held seven teams below 60 points this season.
• Kobe Langley has had at least four assists in two of UNCG's last three games.
• De'Monte Buckingham leads UNCG in scoring (13.5) and rebounding (7.8).
• He is fifth in the conference in rebounding and third in defensive rebounding.
• Bas Leyte is second on the Spartans in scoring (8.6) and rebounding (5.7).
• Leyte is shooting 53.6 percent from the field.
• Leyte is also eighth in the Southern Conference in free throw shooting percentage (78.7).
• Kaleb Hunter (7.5 points) and Abdulsalam (7.3) also average more than seven points.

 
A Look At VMI

• VMI has made at least 12 3-pointers in 11 of its 15 games this season.
• The Keydets have made at least 12 3-pointers in four consecutive contests.
• VMI is second in the nation in 3-point field goals made (191), 3-pointers made per game (12.7), and 3-point field goal attempts (521).
• The Keydets are far from one dimensional as they are fifth in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (30.73), sixth in total assists (261) and total rebounds (610) as well as seventh in free-throw percentage (79.5).
• VMI is also 16th in the nation in assists per game (17.4) and 18th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.50).
• Kamdyn Curfman and Stephens average 18 points each to lead VMI.
• They are tied for fourth in the SoCon in scoring.
• Stephens leads the conference in rebounding (8.9) and Curfman leads the SoCon in 3-pointers made per game (3.9).
• Curfman is also second in the country in 3-pointers made per game.
• VMI is also 5-0 at home this season.

 
Series History

• UNCG leads, 20-9.
• In the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 17, 2021, which was also played at Cameron Hall, VMI knocked off UNCG, 88-77, behind 14 3-pointers and 50.8 percent shooting.
• UNCG and VMI split two games last season with each team protecting home court.
• UNCG has won nine of the last 10 matchups against the Keydets.

 
Up Next

• UNCG hosts Wofford on Monday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. in a game that was postponed from Saturday, Jan. 1.