GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team will contend its first ranked opponent of the season in No. 14 Arkansas on Friday night at the Bud Walton Arena in non-conference play with an 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST start time.
 
This will be the third time in program history that the Spartans and Razorbacks have faced off. The two teams last battled in Fayetteville on December 6, 2022, when then-ranked No. 9 Arkansas came out on top, 65-58.
 
GAME INFO
Where: Bud Walton Arena | Fayetteville, Ark.
When: Friday, November 17 | 8 p.m. EST | 7 p.m. CST
Watch: (SEC Network+/ESPN+) WATCH | Live Stats
Tickets: Purchase tickets here

LAST SEASON FOR THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans posted a 20-12 overall mark last season and 14-4 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
• This was the first 20-win record under the guidance of Coach Jones.
• Kobe Langley was recognized as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, while Jones was named SoCon Coach of the Year.
• Twin brother, Keyshaun Langley was named to the SoCon Coaches and Media All-SoCon first teams. He also earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District first team honors.
• Both Kobe and Keyshaun led the league with 57 steals.
• Kobe was the SoCon leader in assist/turnover ratio (2.58).
• Keyshaun's 41.9 three-point percentage was second in the conference and 11th in the nation, while his 14.3 points per game led the team.
• Mikeal Brown-Jones also returns for the Spartans, as he is one of two returners that averaged double figures last year, tallying 10.1 in his first year with the Blue & Gold.
• Nationally, the team finished in the top 50 in three categories, including 21st in field goal percentage defense, 35th in scoring defense, and 49th in scoring margin.

 SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans were voted to finish second in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll and fourth in the Media Poll. They received one first-place vote in the Coaches' Poll.
• Keyshaun and Brown-Jones were selected to the SoCon Preseason All-SoCon team.
• The Spartans return eight from last year's roster, while adding three transfers and three freshmen.
• UNCG will travel to Chattanooga (Jan. 13) and host Western Carolina (Feb. 21) on the CBS Sports Network.
• The Spartans will travel to Furman (Feb. 4) and host Samford (Feb. 8) on ESPNU.
• The Spartans traveled to Dakar, Senegal and Paris, France this summer for their international trip.
• UNCG earned a preseason CollegeInsider.com ranking of 25^th and is currently 23^rd in week one.
• UNCG recently fell to Vanderbilt on Tuesday night, 74-70.
• Keyshaun (26 points) and Brown-Jones (24 points) paced the team with a combined 50 points.
• Currently, the Spartans are ranked nationally in the top 50 in five categories: 21^st in three pointers per game (11.0), 31^st in free throw percentage (80.0), 37^th in three-point attempts per game (29.0), 47^th in offensive rebound per game (15.00), and 49^th in turnovers per game (9.5).
• They are leading the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.47), free throw percentage, three-point percentage (37.9), and three pointers per game.
• Kobe is fifth in the nation in assists per game (8.0).

 SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS

• In 2022-23, Arkansas recorded a 22-14 overall mark and finished 8-10 in the SEC. The Razorbacks fell in the 2023 NCAA Sweet 16.  
• Arkansas was voted to finish third in the SEC by the media in the Preseason Poll.
• Trevon Brazile and Davonte Davis were voted to the Preseason SEC Team.
• The Razorbacks have won their first three games of the season.
• Four Razorbacks are averaging double digits: Khalif Battle (18.3), El Ellis (12.7), Tramon Mark (12.3), and Trevon Brazile (11.3).
• They have outscored their opponents 265-204.
• Arkansas is ranked in the top-20 nationally in four categories: fifth in blocks per game (8.3), seventh in free throw attempts per game (32.3), 17^th in bench points per game (40.67), and 20^th in free throws made per game (20.7).
• Brazile is ranked sixth nationally with nine total blocks and eighth with 3.00 blocks per game.
• Battle is ranked in the top 20 in two categories, including 16^th in free throws (21), and 19^th in free throw attempts (25).

TICKETS
To purchase tickets for any home games for the  2023-24 UNCG men's basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will conclude their five-game road stint with three games in Nassau, The Bahamas in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. UNCG will open the tournament with Kansas City on Friday, November 24 with an 11:00 a.m. start time. The games will be broadcast on FloHoops.