GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 19 days to face Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer in Hawkins Arena on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Bears enter the contest 11-12 overall and 4-6 in SoCon play, while the Spartans are 14-9 overall record and 8-2 in conference play.

GAME INFO
Where:  Hawkins Arena | Macon, Ga.
When: Thursday, February 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: Purchase tickets here
WATCH (ESPN+) | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT

• Furman defeated UNCG, 69-57, at the Greensboro Coliseum to split the series on Sunday.
• Mohammed Abdulsalam scored a career-high 23 points in the game.
• He also contributed eight rebounds for a team high.
• Abdulsalam went 9-for-10 in field goals and 5-for-7 in free throws.
• Dante Treacy tallied seven points and six assists.
• The Spartans had 42 points inside the paint, compared to the Paladins' 28.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• UNCG is leading the conference in field goal percentage defense (40.0), scoring defense (63.5), three-point percentage defense (30.5), and turnover margin (2.2).
• Among the nation, the Spartans are 28th in field goal percentage defense, 37th in scoring defense, 44th in three point percentage defense, 60th in turnover margin, 78th in assist/turnover ratio (1.20),
• In the nation, Kobe Langley is 31st in assist/turnover margin (2.62), 33rd in steals (45), and 57th in steals per game (1.96).
• His twin brother, Keyshaun Langley is also ranked in the nation: 39th in three-point percentage (40.7), 56th in total three-point field goals made (59), 69th in steals (40), 85th in three pointers per game (2.57).
• The Spartans are outscoring opponents, 69.9-63.5, and outrebounding their foes 36.2-34.5.
• Keyshaun (13.4), Keondre Kennedy (12.5), and Brown-Jones (10.8) are leading the Spartans in points per game.
• Abdulsalam (6.2) and Kennedy (6.1) are leading the team in rebounds per game.

UNCG MILESTONES

• Head Coach Mike Jones earned his 200th career win as a head coach on Wednesday, January 4 with the win over Chattanooga at the Greensboro Coliseum.
• He had 174 wins with Radford and currently has 28 victories with the Spartans.
• Kennedy scored his 1,000 career point during the first half in a 88-80 victory against Furman on Jan. 14 in Greenville, S.C.
• Keyshaun scored his 1,000 career point during the first half of a 62-50 win over VMI at the Greensboro Coliseum.  

SCOUTING MERCER

• Mercer is coming off back-to-back wins against ETSU, 71-67, and The Citadel, 74-65.
• The Bears have won four of the last five games.
• They are outscoring opponents 70.3 to 68.3.
• Jayln McCreary is leading the Bears with 15.3 points per game, while Kamar Robertson is averaging 12.0 points per game.
• McCreary is also leading the team with 5.7 rebounds per game.
• McCreary is 11th in the nation in field goals (163) and 45th in field goal percentage (56.6), which is first and second, respectively in the conference.
• In the nation, the Bears are 40th in turnovers per game (11.2), 63rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.23), and 81st in bench points per game (23.48).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• UNCG will face The Citadel on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Charleston, S.C.
• Following the road series, the Spartans will host ETSU on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. This game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
• It will also be the Gold Rush game, where the first 1,000 students will receive a FREE t-shirt.
• They then host Wofford on Sunday, February 12 for a 3:00 p.m. contest.

SERIES HISTORY

• UNCG leads the all-time series, 12-9
• The Spartans defeated the Bears 59-48 12 days ago on January 21, 2023 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
• Mercer won both games last season, 58-49 (Jan. 15), and 73-64 (Feb. 13).
• Prior to the two games last season, the Spartans were on a seven-game win streak against the Bears dating back to the 2018-19 season.