GREENSBORO, N.C. – Time to write a new chapter for the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team.
 
That was the theme following UNCG's 73-69 setback to ETSU in the regular-season finale for both programs Sunday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans' frantic rally from a 67-58 deficit in the final 97 seconds fell short.
 
All 10 SoCon programs are 0-0 as UNCG looks to win consecutive Southern Conference Tournament championships. UNCG defeated eight of the other nine SoCon programs this season, including its quarterfinal opponent Samford.
 
UNCG will enter the Ingles Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed and begin defense of its tournament championship against No. 3 Samford in a quarterfinal Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Harrah's Cherokee Arena in Asheville. UNCG has appeared in four of the last five SoCon Tournament championship games.
 
Before the contest, the Spartans feted their seniors Kaleb Hunter, Mohammed Abdulsalam, De'Monte Buckingham, and Khyre Thompson.
 
The quartet was showered with thunderous applause from appreciative fans, there were hugs, tears, flowers, framed jerseys, and video tributes during the emotional and intimate ceremony. Buckingham received a ball for scoring his 1,500th career collegiate point.
 
Quotable
Hunter on senior ceremony and career.
"It was special and emotional. I've been here since I was 18 and to still see some fans support me from when I started and scream my name is crazy. It means so much to me. The relationships with people. I am so emotional. To be able to play in the Coliseum is crazy. It didn't hit me until today that we have we have one of the best gyms in the nation. I am going to miss this gym. I am going to miss the people. I am always going to be blue-and-gold."
 
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on the seniors.
"These guys have cemented their legacy with UNCG basketball. I think they have given everything they have to give to UNCG and they should be proud of their accomplishments.
 
Jones on the upcoming SoCon Tournament.
"It's a new season. The regular season is behind us. I am proud of my guys for getting a bye and not having to play Friday. That's an accomplishment for the team especially with the adversity that we've gone through. Now, we have to turn the page and get ready for our next challenge. We feel like if we play our game and do the things, we know we are capable of doing, we have a good chance to win."
 
Records
ETSU             15-16 overall, 7-11 SoCon
UNCG            17-13, 9-9
 
How It Happened

• Kobe Langley led UNCG with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting.
• Keyshaun Langley added 11 points.
• Mohammed Abdulsalam finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
• Kobe Langley scored 11 points during an incandescent 23 second stretch in the final minute.
• Kobe Langley's final 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining pulled UNCG to within, 71-69.
• ETSU took control with 11-2 burst over a four-minute stretch late in the game to open its nine-point lead.
• Kobe Langley's basket produced the final tie, 55-55, with 5:30 remaining.
• ETSU held the lead for the final 12 minutes.
• UNCG led 29-28 at intermission.
• ETSU's David Sloan scored all 19 of his points in the second half.
• Jordan King and Mohab Yasser scored 15 points each for the Bucs.

 
Inside the Numbers

• De'Monte Buckingham collected seven rebounds for the second straight game.
• Buckingham had 20 games this season with at least five rebounds.
• Kobe and Keyshaun Langley had a season-high four steals each.
• UNCG finished with nine steals, the 12th time in SoCon contests it finished with at least seven thefts.
• This was the 11th time this season that Kobe Langley has scored in double figures.
• He ended the season by scoring double figures in UNCG's final three games.
• Kobe Langley is averaging 13.6 points over UNCG's last five games.
• This was the sixth time this season and the 11th time in his career that Abdulsalam has reached double figures.
• This was Keyshaun Langley's ninth double-digit scoring game this season and the 32nd of his career.

 
Quick Look Ahead

• The Spartans and Bulldogs split a pair of meetings during the season with each team winning at home. In the two games against each other, UNCG averaged 55 points and Samford averaged 56.5 points. UNCG beat Samford, 61-58, on Jan. 22. Samford beat UNCG, 55-49, on Feb. 19.

SoCon Tournament

• For information regarding the 2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, N.C., which will run from March 3-7, please visit: www.soconhoops.com. If you would like to purchase tickets, please contact the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250.