LEXINGTON, VA. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team picked up its seventh win in the last 10 games behind a 72-57 victory over Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on Wednesday night at Cameron Hall.
Three Spartans scored double figures, including
Keyshaun Langley who recorded a career-best 25 points.
Bas Leyte was second on the team with 14 points, while
Keondre Kennedy tallied 12.
The 4-1 start is the best start in the Conference for the Spartans since the 2018-19 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG started the game with a strong 14-2 run through the first eight minutes, 46 seconds. VMI scored its long bucket at 17:09. The Keydets slowly chipped away at the difference, cutting the deficit to six, 21-15 with 6:56 remaining in the first half. Kennedy hit the Spartans' fourth three pointer of the game with 5:49 left, extending the advantage to nine, 24-15. VMI then hit back-to-back three pointers to come within three, 24-21, and then two, 24-22 with a free throw. UNCG wrapped up the half with seven-straight points to head to the locker room with a nine-point lead, 31-22.
The Keydets and Spartans traded baskets in the first two minutes of the game, as UNCG held a nine-point lead, 36-27. VMI went on an 11-8 run, cutting the deficit to six, 44-38. UNCG responded with an 8-3 run to extend the lead to 11, 52-41. The score toggled and with three minutes left, Kennedy blocked a corner shot down in VMI's offensive half, before Leyte took off down the court to dunk the ball in for a 12-point advantage, 65-53. With 45 seconds remaining,
Mikeal Brown-Jones slammed his own dunk down for a 14-point gap, 69-55. Kennedy made his third three pointer of the game with six seconds left to give the Spartans their largest lead of the game and a 15-point margin to win, 72-57.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Keyshaun's 25 points was a game-high.
- He shot 10-for-13 in field goals, while shooting 4-for-6 in three pointers.
- Leyte and Mohammed Abdulsalam led the Spartans with seven rebounds.
- Keyshaun, Kennedy, and Abdulsalam each had a block.
- Dante Treacy went 4-for-4 in free throws and recorded seven assists.
- UNCG outmatched VMI in field goals (49.1%-38.9%) and three pointers (42.1%-28.6%).
- The Spartans outscored the Keydets with points in the paint (36-24), second-chance points (12-10), fast-break points (13-6), bench points (11-0), points off turnovers (23-9).
RECORDS
UNCG: 10-8, 4-1 SoCon
VMI: 5-13, 0-5 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans turn around and travel to Furman on Saturday, January 14 at 4 p.m. in Greenville, S.C.
