JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team secured its first victory of the season behind a 68-62 come-from-behind win against Youngstown State in the 2025 Jacksonville Classic at Edward Waters University on Sunday evening.
Three Spartans recorded double-figures, including
Justin Neely leading the team with 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. This was his third double-double of the season and 10
th of his career.
Donald Whitehead Jr. was second on the team with 14 points, while
KJ Younger added 11 points in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Youngstown State opened the game with a 7-0 lead, but UNCG responded with five unanswered points to cut the deficit to two, 7-5. The Penguins saw their first double-digit advantage, a 10-point lead at 13:01, 17-7. After Youngstown State extended its lead to 17, 35-18, Younger drained an open three, UNCG's third of the half, 35-21. The Spartans closed the frame with Younger's second dunk of the game and a good free throw from Whitehead Jr. to go into the break with an 18-point deficit, 43-25.
UNCG opened the second half with a 17-9 run in the first nine minutes of action to cut the deficit to 10, 52-42. Following a Penguin three-pointer at 10:56, the Spartans scored seven-straight points closing the gap to four, 55-51, with 7:39 left in the half. UNCG continued its offensive momentum and concluded the game with a 15-2 run, where eight of the 15 came from
Assane Mandian, holding on for a six-point victory, 68-62. UNCG shot 61.5 percent from field goal range in the second half alone to give the Blue & Gold the upper edge, while the Penguins shot 25.8.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Neely also matched his career-best of three steals for the fifth time.
- Mandian tallied a career-best eight points and two rebounds.
- Noah Norgaard notched a career-best eight points.
- UNCG had the edge in points in the paint, 32-28, and bench points, 24-19.
- The Penguins led in fast breaks points, 20-14, and points off turnovers, 24-18.
- UNCG led in both field goal percentage (43.6-36.5) and three-point percentage (27.8-26.7).
RECORDS
UNCG: 1-5
YSU: 2-4
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UP NEXT
The Spartans return to play on Tuesday, Nov. 25 in the 2025 Jacksonville Classic, battling Delaware at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, with a start time of 1:30 p.m. inside Adams-Jenkins Gym.
