GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team continues The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule traveling to VMI on Wednesday and then hosting Furman on Saturday.
The Spartans and Keydets will face off on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at Cameron Hall. UNCG will then host Furman on Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. start time inside Bodford Arena following the women's basketball game at 2:00 p.m. against ETSU.
UNCG has the overall series advantage against the Keydets, 26-11. The Spartans swept VMI during the regular season series with scores of 60-57 and 80-54. The Keydets then claimed a 64-57 victory over the Spartans in a SoCon Quarterfinal game.
UNCG has the overall advantage over Furman, 27-21. The Spartans swept the Paladins in last year's regular season series with scores of 84-67 and 58-50.
| Game 21: UNC Greensboro (7-12, 3-3 SoCon) vs. Furman (13-6, 4-2 SoCon) |
| Date |
Saturday, Jan. 24 |
| Time |
5:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Greensboro, N.C. (Bodford Arena) |
| Tickets |
Click here to purchase tickets |
| Promotions |
The first 500 fans will receive a FREE Trapper Hat! Special Olympics Celebration! |
| Coverage |
Live Stats: Live Stats | Video: ESPN+ |
| Social Media |
Twitter: @UNCGBasketball | Instagram: @uncgbasketball | Facebook: UNCGmbb |
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
- UNCG split its games last week, defeating The Citadel inside Bodford Arena, 69-66, in overtime and then falling to Mercer, 102-92, at First Horizon Coliseum.
- Against the Bears, KJ Younger led the way with 21 points followed closely behind by Lilian Marville with 18 points.
- Justin Neely & Valentino Pinedo each chipped in 13 points and Donald Whitehead Jr. rounded out UNCG in double-digits with 12 points.
- Pinedo and Neely each recorded seven rebounds apiece.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- UNCG comes into the week with a 7-12 overall record and 3-3 mark in the SoCon to stand tied for fifth place in the conference standings.
- The Spartans are pacing the SoCon in free throw attempts per game (24.6) and free throws made per game (16.9).
- They are second in three-point percentage (35.9) and scoring offense (78.5).
- Neely leads the conference and is fifth nationally with 11 double-doubles this season. He also paces the league in rebounds (216), defensive rebounds per game (8.47) and rebounds per game (11.4).
- His 216 boards rank second nationally along with his 8.47 defensive rebounds per game, while his 11.4 rebounds per game rank third overall.
- Neely is also second in the SoCon in free throws (105).
- Neely paces the team with 16.1 points per game.
- Younger (13.4), Whitehead Jr. (11.8) and Marville (10.1) round out the Spartans averaging double-figure points.
- Neely (2.8) and Whitehead Jr. (2.5) are leading the team in assists per game.
- Pinedo is leading the Spartans with 15 blocks this season.
- Neely was voted 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 11 newcomers.
- Six of the 14 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 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 THE KEYDETS
- The Keydets were voted to finish sixth in the 2025-26 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Rickey Bradley Jr. was voted to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Conference Team.
- VMI has fell the past four games, with the most recent being an 82-68 loss to The Citadel on Saturday.
- The Keydets defeated Chattanooga, 79-71, on Jan. 3 in Lexington for VMI's first league win of the season.
- TJ Johnson is leading the team with 18.9 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game.
- Tan Yildizoglu paces the team with 4.1 assists per game.
- VMI is leading the SoCon with 33.0 three-point attempts per game, which a majority is from Johnson's 179 three-point attempts this season, which leads the nation.
- Johnson is also 13th in the nation with 3.39 three-pointers per game and 16th with 61 total three-pointers made.
SCOUTING THE PALADINS
- Furman is currently 13-6 overall and 4-2 in the SoCon and will face The Citadel on Wednesday before traveling to Greensboro.
- The Paladins were voted to finish second in the 2025-26 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning five first-place votes.
- Cooper Bowser and Tom House were voted to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Conference Team.
- Wofford snapped Furman's three-game win streak with a 74-70 victory in Greenville on Saturday.
- Alex Wilkins is pacing the team with 17.6 points per game and 5.0 assists per game.
- Bowser (13.4 ppg), Asa Thomas (13.2 ppg) and Charles Johnston (10.2 ppg) round out the Paladins averaging double figures.
- Furman is leading the SoCon in assists per game (16.5), rebound margin (7.4), defensive rebounds per game (27.58), rebounds per game (39.95) and winning percentage (68.4).
- Wilkins is leading the conference in field goal attempts (271) and field goals (123).
- Furman finished the 2024-25 season 25-10 overall and 11-7 in the SoCon. The Paladins lost to Wofford in the 2025 Championship game, but earned a bid into the 2025 National Invitation Tournament, where they fell to North Texas in the first round.
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
UNCG hits the road for two SoCon games, first visiting Macon, Georgia, to face Mercer on Thursday, Jan. 29 inside Hawkins Arena at 7:00 p.m. The Spartans then travel to Charleston, South Carolina, to battle The Citadel on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1:00 p.m. at McAlister Field House.
