GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team held the lead for just about the entire game in a 73-61 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday night at the Greensboro Coliseum in the Spartans' conference home opener.
This is the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Spartans are starting 3-0 in Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
Along with a perfect start to the SoCon play, Head Coach
Mike Jones also enjoyed celebrating his 200th career win as a head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG held the lead until Chattanooga tied the score at 21 with 7:43 remaining in the first half. The Mocs' one-point advantage with a free throw at 7:41, lasted for 16 seconds, before the Spartans went on an 8-0 run to take back the lead, 29-22, which they held for the remainder of the game. The run included three pointers from
Keyshaun Langley and
Keondre Kennedy, and a jumper from
Mikeal Brown-Jones.
Chattanooga cut the deficit to three, 30-33, with 2:20 left in the half. UNCG continued its offensive output and grew its lead to seven, following two free throws from
Keyshaun Langley and field goal from
Mohammed Abdulsalam, 37-30.
The Mocs opened the second half with an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to one, 38-39. UNCG fought back as the two teams traded baskets. Three straight baskets from the Spartans in a minute and four seconds expanded its lead to nine, 50-41, right before a 7-3 run for UNCG. The drive included its largest lead of the game, 57-44, a 13-point advantage.
An 8-1 run for Chattanooga closed the gap to six, 52-58, with 7:09 left in the frame. The Spartans held the Mocs scoreless for four minutes and 41 seconds, until Jamaal Walker broke the silence with a free throw. Brown-Jones made another ESPN Top-10 worthy dunk with 1:14 left on the clock for a 12-point lead, 71-59, as Chattanooga made its final basket with 58 seconds left and UNCG's
Dante Treacy closed the game with two made free throws, 73-61.
From senior Keyshaun Langley on the 3-0 start
"Being 3-0 gives us great confidence going into the rest of the season. It gives us a good head start, we just have to keep it up and play together."
Keyshaun Langley on Head Coach Jones' 200th win
"Coach is a great guy; a great coach and we just want to keep winning games for him. I am excited that we had a huge win for him for the 200th. We are just trying to keep winning games."
BY THE NUMBERS
- This was the 12th game this season, where the Spartans led at the half.
- UNCG has now totaled 25 dunks this season, with Brown-Jones leading the way with 13.
- Chattanooga outrebounded UNCG 38-33.
- This was Keyshaun Langley's 10th game this season with double digit points.
- He led the game with 19 points, chipping in five steals and four rebounds.
- Brown-Jones was second on the team with 15 points.
- Treacy was the third Spartan with double figures, scoring 10.
- He added five assists for a team high.
- Keondre Kennedy had nine points.
- UNCG held the advantage in field goal percentage (48.2 – 36.8), three-point percentage (40.0 – 24.2), and tied the Mocs in free throw percentage (73.3).
RECORDS
UNCG: 9-7, 3-0 SoCon
Chattanooga: 9-7, 1-2 SoCon
Keyshaun Langley on his performance the last couple of games
"Coach talked to everyone about their roles and told me that I needed to be more of a scorer and a leader. I just come in and be myself. I score, I be a leader and make sure my teammates are good and we get the win."
UP NEXT
The Spartans will turn around and host Samford on Saturday, January 7 with a 4 p.m. tip-off. This game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Nextstar. This game will be the Fan Appreciate Game.
