GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team concludes its six-game road slate with an in-state battle against East Carolina on Saturday inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum at 4:00 p.m.
The Pirates are leading the overall series, 11-2, which dates back to 1988. East Carolina won the most recent game between the two teams, 71-50, on Dec. 28, 2014. The Spartans claimed a 78-70 victory on Dec. 6, 2005.
| Game 10: UNC Greensboro (1-8, 0-0 SoCon) at East Carolina (3-5, 0-0 American) |
| Date |
Saturday, Dec. 6 |
| Time |
4:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum) |
| Coverage |
Live Stats: Live Stats | Video: ESPN+ |
| Social Media |
Twitter: @UNCGBasketball | Instagram: @uncgbasketball | Facebook: UNCGmbb |
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
- UNCG fell to UNC Asheville, 82-77, in a neutral site battle on Tuesday night at Harrah's Cherokee Center.
- Donald Whitehead Jr. paced the Spartans with 13 points and a season-best five assists.
- Assane Mandian tallied a new career-best 11 points.
- Landon King scored a season-best 12 points.
- Justin Neely fell just one point shy of a double-double, collecting 10 rebounds and tallying nine points.
- UNCG had 29 points from the bench, while the Bulldogs had three points from the bench.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- Neely is pacing the team with a double-double, averaging 13.0 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game to sit atop the team.
- Among the SoCon, Neely is leading the league in rebounds (102), defensive rebounds per game (8.67) and rebounds per game (11.3).
- He is also nationally ranked third in rebounds, fourth in defensive rebounds per game and fifth in rebounds per game.
- Whitehead Jr. (12.8) and Younger (11.6) round out the Spartans averaging double-figure points.
- Neely was voted The Southern Conference (SoCon) Player of the Week on Nov. 24 after averaging a double-double with 17.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week in Florida.
- The 2025-26 roster features three returners and 12 newcomers.
- Six of the 15 student-athletes are international, which is the largest international class under fifth-year Head Coach Mike Jones.
- UNCG was picked to finish fifth in The 2025 Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll with 43 votes.
- The Spartans will play 10 games in Bodford Arena and four games in the First Horizon Coliseum this season.
- UNCG went 20-12 overall and 13-5 in the SoCon in the 2024-25 season.
- This was the eighth year out of nine with 20 or more wins for the Spartans.
- The Spartans concluded the 2024-25 season ranked 14th in three-point percentage defense (30.1), 15th in field goal percentage defense (40.0), 25th in scoring defense (65.4), 26th in turnovers per game (9.9) and 32nd three-point percentage (37.2).
- Coach Jones achieved his third year out of four winning 20 or more games last season with the Spartans.
- UNCG entered the 2025 SoCon Tournament as the second seed, marking the third consecutive year under Jones that the team has secured a top three seed.
SCOUTING EAST CAROLINA
- East Carolina concluded the 2024-25 season 19-14 overall and 10-8 in the American Conference.
- The Pirates were voted to finish 10th in the 2025-26 American Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Jordan Riley was voted to the Preseason All-Conference First Team.
- Riley is currently averaging 19.0 points per game to lead the team and is second with 4.4 rebounds per game.
- His 2.00 steals per game are on top the American stats.
- Giovanni Emejuru is leading the team with 9.1 boards per game and and second on the team averaging 13.4 points per game.
- Emejuru is second in the American and leading the team with 1.88 blocks per game.
- His 4.35 offensive rebounds per game is leading the conference and ninth nationally.
- Corey Caulker paces the team with 3.0 assists per game.
- The Pirates are outmatching their opponents in rebounds per game (36.6-33.8).
FLEMING GYMNASIUM RENAMED BODFORD ARENA
- On Saturday, Nov. 8, Fleming Gymnasium, home to UNCG volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball was renamed to Bodford Arena.
- This historic moment for the department was made possible through a transformational $2 million gift from the Bodford family.
- This generous support represents the largest unrestricted gift in the history of UNCG Athletics, as well as the first associated with naming a competitive athletic facility.
- The University is already familiar with the Bodford name - the Bodford Family Speed, Strength & Conditioning Center was dedicated in October 2020.
UNCG MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will return home for a five-game slate that will begin with William Peace on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Bodford Arena.
UNCG will then play at the First Horizon Coliseum for the first time this season on Tuesday, Dec. 16 against Greensboro foe NC A&T at 7:00 p.m.
