GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team lost to The Southern Conference (SoCon) rival Mercer, 102-92, on Saturday afternoon in First Horizon Coliseum.   

KJ Younger led the way with 21 points for the Spartans followed closely behind by Lilian Marville with 18 points. Both Justin Neely and Valentino Pinedo each chipped in 13 points. Donald Whitehead Jr. rounded out UNCG in double-digits with 12 points.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The Spartans saw Whitehead Jr. make the first basket of the game, 2-0, but Mercer responded with three-straight triples to take a 9-2 advantage with 16:54 on the clock. UNCG cut the deficit to one, 9-8, following a three-pointer by Noah Norgaard at 14:53, but Mercer's offense persisted. A 9-1 run by the Bears, put them up nine, 18-9 with 10:55 left in the half. UNCG kept the deficit within single digits, until Mercer put up its first double-digit lead of 10 at 7:01 on the clock, 31-21. The Bears didn't look back and saw an 18-point cushion, 47-29, with 2:09 left in the first half. The score went back-and-forth for the remaining minutes, as Mercer went to the locker room with a 14-point lead, 51-37.  

Mercer continued to maintain the offense throughout the second half, expanding its lead to as high as 22 points, 82-60, at the 10:17 mark. The Spartans were able to jumpstart the offense going on an 11-3 run capped off by a steal and layup by Younger to cut the deficit down to 10, 91-81, with 2:32 remaining. However, the Bears were able to keep UNCG at a distance for the remainder of the game, knocking down their free threes to bring the final score to 102-92.  

BY THE NUMBERS 

• UNCG bested Mercer in free throw percentage (74%-73%), points off turnovers (20-6), bench points (27-22), steals (8-5) and three-pointers made (11-10). 

• Mercer led the way in field goal percentage (61%-51%), three-point percentage (50%-44%), total rebounds (37-22), second chance points (13-7), points in the paint (38-34) and free throws made (30-17).  

• The two teams were tied in assists (12-12). 

• Clinton Efinda went a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc for nine points. 

• Marville led the Spartans in assists with four. 

• Pinedo and Neely each recorded seven rebounds apiece. 

• Younger, Whitehead Jr. and Neely had three steals on the defensive end.  

RECORDS 

UNCG: 7-12, 3-3 SoCon 
MER: 12-7, 4-2 SoCon 
 

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UP NEXT 
UNCG continues SoCon play on Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. start time against VMI at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Virginia.