GREENSBORO, N.C. – Three from the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team scored in double-digits Tuesday night to give the Spartans its first victory inside of the Greensboro Coliseum this season, with a 76-72 victory over UMBC.
UMBC graduate transfer
Keondre Kennedy paced the Spartans with a season-high 24 points. Junior
Mikeal Brown-Jones scored a career-high 18 points, while senior
Keyshaun Langley tallied 14 points.
From Head Coach Mike Jones
"That was a fun game. We dominated the first half, let them come back, dominated in the second half, let them come back and then had to gut out a tough game early in the year which is good for us in the long run. We have to learn how to win games like this and I thought our guys made more plays than their guys down the stretch to close it out. We still have to get a lot more disciplined on both sides of the ball, take care of the ball on offense, run it with great pace and execution and then defensively not have any lapse giving guys open shots. It is better to learn when you win, than it is when you lose. I am proud of our guys for finding a way to win."
How it Happened
UNCG began the game with an 8-0 run, which included two three pointers from Keyshaun. UMBC scored its first points of the game on a three-pointer from Jacob Boonyasith, but the Spartans continued its offensive attack with back-to-back layups from
Mohammed Abdulsalam and
Bas Leyte, 12-3. Kennedy scored seven-straight points for UNCG, which included a three pointer, a dunk, and two free throws. His baskets extended the lead to the Spartans' largest of 16, 31-15. The Retrievers scored nine-straight points in response to cut the deficit to 31-24. They continued to chip away with an 8-4 run to end the half, cutting the Spartans' lead to three, 35-32.
UNCG climbed its way back to a double-digit advantage in the second half behind an 11-3 run to start the frame for an 11-point lead, 46-35. The Retrievers got as close as one point, 54-53, following Colton Lawrence's fifth three of the night. The Spartans once again extended its lead, this time to nine, 72-63, following back-to-back dunks from Leyte and Brown-Jones. Matteo Picarelli of UMBC dropped his fifth three pointer of the evening with 20-seconds left in the game, and Kennedy capped the night making two free throws keep the advantage, 76-72.
From Kennedy
"I am happy that I made some shots tonight and I was down on myself after we played Towson because I was not able to help my team in a way that they brought me here to do. I was happy I was able to bounce back. I really want to thank my team and my coaches because they were very supportive of the whole situation, including playing against my former school.
"It was exciting to play my former school. I still have really good relationships with a lot of the guys on the current team. We talk all the time. It was a really good feeling to go out there and play against them.
"First, I can't wait to visit another country (Canada) and then to play against some really good teams. Last time I took an international trip (to Jamaica), we didn't win any games, so my goal this time is to win every game I get a chance to play. It is my last year, so I want to win as many games as possible."
By the Numbers
- Kennedy went 3-for-3 behind the arc, 5-for-7 in field goals, and 11-for-14 in free throws.
- Kennedy also led the charge in rebounds, pulling down eight, with seven being defensive rebounds.
- Kennedy, Bas Leyte, and Brown-Jones each had a block.
- Dante Treacy also shot 100-percent (2-for-2) in three-pointers.
- Kobe Langley dished out four assists, while Keyshaun chipped in three.
- UNCG scored 20 points off the bench and 26 in the paint.
- The Spartans shot above 50-percent in field goals (52.2), three pointers (53.3), and free throws (80).
Records
UNCG: 2-2
UMBC: 3-3
Up Next
The Spartans begin a six-game span away from Greensboro, starting with three games in Montreal, Canada in the Northern Classic. UNCG will face Montana State (Nov. 25), Hofstra (Nov. 26), and Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 27) at Place Bell Arena.
