DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The foundation for future success for the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team has been established under head coach
Mike Jones.
Jones' first year concluded with a tough 71-68 setback to Boston University in a first-round contest of the Roman College Basketball Invitational at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Sunday night.
Under Jones, the Spartans enjoyed some great moments this season in finishing with 17 victories.
One of the many season highlights was a stretch of defensive excellence that saw UNCG hold four opponents below 60 points in four straight games, which was the first time in UNCG men's basketball program that occurred according to records dating back to 1968. Another was holding 13 teams below 60 points and leading the Southern Conference in rebounding margin.
Some of that brilliance was on display in the form of 21 points from graduate senior
De'Monte Buckingham and 17 points from
Bas Leyte, who also collected a team-best eight rebounds.
Junior guards
Kobe Langley and
Keyshaun Langley added eight points each for the Spartans. Junior guard
Dante Treacy finished with six assists.
Leyte scored consecutive baskets in the final minute to bring the Spartans to within, 67-66, with 45 seconds remaining. That was as close as UNCG would get as Boston continued to make big shots and sink foul shots. The Terriers were 12-for-13 from the foul line in the second half.
Quotable
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on his first season.
"I just told the guys they were a fun group to coach. It took us about a half of year for everybody to buy in and once they did, we played some of our best basketball. Once we did, we showed what we were capable of, beating anybody in the league. I told the guys I appreciate them for accepting me as their coach. I know it wasn't easy for them, but they accepted me, and our coaching staff and they did some good things this year and laid a good foundation for the future."
Buckingham on the memories of the 2021-22 season.
"Being with a group of guys like this was fun. Every single day, they along with the coaching staff pushed me to be the best. Everyone on this team from the coaches all the way down to the managers believed in me and gave me a sense of confidence throughout the season that I can play my game. I am going to remember my teammates and loving them. It was a great year for me. I am definitely going to miss them. I will come back and always support UNCG basketball."
Inside The Numbers
- UNCG finished with 14 assists on 23 baskets.
- The Spartans made 10 3-pointers.
- Buckingham was 8-for-14 from the field and 5-for-11 from 3-point distance.
- Leyte was 6-for-8 from the field with six offensive rebounds.
- The Spartans led by 13 points on two different occasions in the first half.
- UNCG took its final lead of the contest, 46-45, on a Leyte foul shot with 11:08 remaining.
- There were four lead changes and two ties.
- Mohammed Abdulsalam finished with six rebounds
- Kobe Langley and Buckingham had five rebounds each.
- Sukhmail Mathon had 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Boston.
- Harper Jonas made five 3-pointers to finish with 15 points.
- Javante McCoy added 13 points for the Terriers.
- Boston made 53.8 percent (14-for-26) of its shots in the second half.
