MANHATTAN, KAN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team fell to Kansas State, 93-64, in the season opener on Tuesday at Bramlage Coliseum in non-conference action.

This was the first meeting between the two teams. Three Spartans scored double-digit points, including Justin Neely with a team-high 15, Lilian Marville with 14 points and Domas Kauzonas with 10 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Kansas State got the scoring going with an early layup from Khamari Mcgriff.  The Spartans quickly responded with a free throw from Marville and a jumper from Kauzonas to take their first lead of the game, 3-2, with 18:29 on the clock. The first tied score of the game came at 13:32 after a 6-5 run in favor of the Wildcats. UNCG utilized an 14-4 run to climb to a 10-point lead, 22-12. The Spartans maintained the lead until Kansas State tied the game at 30-30 with 2:07 left in the half. The Wildcats made a free throw and a layup, while the Spartans had Neely and Donald Whitehead Jr. each make a layup to end the half with UNCG up one before the break, 34-33.

UNCG kept Kansas State within arm's reach during the first six minutes of the second half, but the Wildcats jumped to their first double-digit lead at 14:01 with a dunk by Nate Johnson. Kansas State expanded its lead to 32, 89-57, with 3:12 left on the clock, mostly in part by its 64.7% three-point shooting in the second half. UNCG concluded the final minutes with a 7-4 run, but the Wildcats took the 93-64 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Neely led the Spartans with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
• His five assists are a career high.
• Marville scored 14 points in his first collegiate start.
• Kauzonas was the third Spartan with double-digit points, tallying 10 points along with six rebounds.
• KJ Younger, in his first collegiate start, had nine points and led the game with four steals.
• Assane Mandian made the scoresheet in his first collegiate game, making his first basket.
• Noah Norgaard, also playing in his first collegiate game, drained a three-pointer for the first basket of his career.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans host Triad foe Elon for their 2025-26 home opener on Saturday in Fleming Gymnasium at 4:00 p.m.

Prior to the game, UNCG students are invited to Spartan Madness, taking place at Moran Commons in front of the Fountain View Dining Hall on campus. The home opening event is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. and everyone will march over to Fleming Gymnasium at 3:00 p.m. to cheer on the Spartans.