LEXINGTON, Va. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team started a grueling stretch of four games in seven days in four different states with a 72-56 victory over Virginia Military Institute in Southern Conference contest at Cameron Hall Saturday afternoon.
In helping the visiting Spartans create a masterpiece of mayhem, junior guard
Kobe Langley was a bundle of disruption from start to finish.
UNCG followed Langley's lead to hold its third consecutive opponent below 60 points, hand VMI its first loss at home this season, and limit the Keydets to 23 points under their season scoring average.
Langley led UNCG with 18 points. The diminutive dynamo also made a career-best four 3-pointers. He also stuffed the stat sheet with a career best six rebounds, three steals, and three assists.
Those numbers don't adequately describe Langley's impact on this one. His energy and encouragement made the difference.
Langley made two 3-pointers, had a pair of deflections that led to VMI turnovers and dove on the floor to save a UNCG possession before the first media timeout. He was just warming up.
Langley also spent so much time on the floor that he knew what brand of paint VMI used on the honey-colored hardwood. Early in the second half after a steal, VMI's 6-foot, 9 inch, 266-pound specimen Jake Stephens fell on top of Langley, who weighs less than 180 pounds.
Langley popped right up and clapped his hands.
When VMI opened the second half with a quick surge to close to within eight points, it was Langley that ended any thoughts of a rally as he came up with a steal and sank a 3-pointer to expand UNCG's lead back to 13 points.
With under two minutes remaining, Langley made a tough layup and allowed a small smile to crease his face as he turned toward the delighted UNCG bench. It was only fitting that Langley had the ball in his hands as the clock melted toward zeroes.
Records
UNCG 9-5, 1-1
VMI 9-7, 2-2
Quotable
Langley on his performance against VMI
"We had lost our first conference game, so we came in with an aggressive mindset. Me, personally, I came in aggressive, took the shots I wanted to take, and my teammates found me. It was a lot of fun playing defense today. We've been trying to lock in on defense because that's our bread-and-butter."
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on Langley's performance.
"He was aggressive right from the beginning. I think for him it was a pride thing because he didn't feel like he played as well as he could've in the previous game. He's got a lot of pride and he came out and competed today. His aggression from the beginning helped us set the tone today. He made some shots, which helped, but the defensive thing is what got to have from him every game and he brought it today."
How It Happened
- Kaleb Hunter sprang off the bench to score 15 points.
- Hunter was 7-of-7 from the foul line.
- De'Monte Buckingham added 12 points and nine rebounds.
- Bas Leyte scored on several balletic moves around the basket to end with 11 points and five rebounds.
- Miles Jones made a pair of free throws with 9:59 remaining to give UNCG a 53-42 lead.
- UNCG's advantage never dropped below double digits.
- After VMI closed to 49-42 with 11:16 remaining, the Spartans scored nine straight points to regain control of the contest.
- UNCG finished the first half by scoring 14 of the final 21 points to open a 36-25 bulge at intermission.
- The Spartans held VMI to seven points over the last 6:24 of the first half.
- Buckingham's basket with 11:28 remaining gave UNCG the lead for good, 13-12.
- It was part of an 11-3 UNCG surge that gave it early separation.
By The Numbers
- This is Langley's second consecutive double-digit scoring game and the fifth this season.
- Langley has scored in double figures five times this season.
- After attempting three foul shots against Furman, UNCG went to the free-throw line 13 times in the first half.
- Overall, UNCG took 21 foul shots.
- Hunter grabbed his 350th career rebound. He finished with four.
- This is the 12th time in UNCG's last 13 games that Buckingham has finished with at least six rebounds.
- Buckingham has scored in double figures 70 times during his career.
- This was the fifth time this season and the sixth of his career that Leyte scored in double figures.
- Dante Treacy had a season-high three steals.
- UNCG scored 30 points in the paint.
- The Spartans transformed 15 VMI turnovers into 15 points.
- VMI entered the game with wins in 16 of its last 17 home contests.
- Jake Stephens led VMI with 22 points.
- Kamdyn Curfman added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Keydets.
- UNCG held VMI to 10 harmless 3-pointers, two below its average of 12.7, which is second in the NCAA.
Up Next
- UNCG returns home to host Wofford on Monday at 6 p.m.
Final Word
Jones on UNCG's defensive performance.
"A team as explosive as VMI and they didn't reach 60. Defensively, we want to give ourselves a chance to win night in and night out. I don't care how we win; I do want us to make it hard on the other team to score. Tonight, we made it as hard as we've had all year on an explosive offensive team with a lot of weapons. I am proud of that and the way we took care of the ball."
