GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team will continue The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule traveling to Mercer on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena. The Spartans will then journey to Charleston, South Carolina, to face The Citadel on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1:00 p.m. inside McAlister Field House.
 
UNCG holds the all-time series record over The Citadel at 41-10 overall. The Spartans are 24-1 in the last 25 meetings with the Bulldogs. UNCG secured a 69-66 overtime win in Greensboro on Jan. 15 inside Bodford Arena.

UNCG has the slight edge over Mercer at 14-13 in the overall meetings. The Bears claimed a 102-92 win at the First Horizon Coliseum on Jan. 17.
 

Game 22: UNC Greensboro (8-13, 4-4 SoCon) at Mercer (13-8, 5-3 SoCon)
Date	Thursday, Jan. 29
Time	7:00 p.m.
Location	Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)
Tickets	Click here to purchase tickets
Coverage	Live Stats: Live Stats |  Video: ESPN+
Social Media	Twitter: @UNCGBasketball | Instagram: @uncgbasketball | Facebook: UNCGmbb

 

Game 23: UNC Greensboro (8-13, 4-4 SoCon) at The Citadel (6-15, 3-5 SoCon)
Date	Saturday, Jan. 31
Time	1:00 p.m.
Location	Charleston, S.C. (McAlister Field House)
Tickets	Click here to purchase tickets
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 VMI on the road, 85-78, before falling to Furman inside Bodford Arena, 89-66.
• Against the Keydets, Justin Neely led the way with an impressive 22 points and 22 rebounds.
• Neely paced the way again registering 20 points and nine boards against the Paladins.
• KJ Younger (17 points) and Valentino Pinedo (10 points) also tallied double-figure points.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• UNCG comes into the week with a 8-13 overall record and 4-4 mark in the SoCon to stand in fifth place in the conference standings.
• The Spartans are pacing the SoCon in free throw attempts per game (24.7) and free throws made per game (17.0).
• They are second in three-point percentage (35.7).
• Neely leads the conference and is fifth nationally with 12 double-doubles this season. He also paces the league in rebounds (247), defensive rebounds per game (8.95) and rebounds per game (11.8).
• His 247 boards rank second nationally along with his 8.95 defensive rebounds per game and 11.8 rebounds per game.
• Neely is also second in the SoCon in free throws (121).
• Neely recorded a career-best 22 rebounds against VMI on Jan. 21. According to UNCG records, the last time a Spartan collected 20 or more rebounds in a single game was James Dickey on March 15, 2020, when he recorded 20 boards against Mercer. Neely's 22 rebounds are the most in a single game in UNCG's Division I era.
• Neely now joins elite company with 20 or more boards in a single game: Tom Nelson (27), Bruce (25), Kyle Hines (21) and Dickey (20).
• Neely (16.6), Younger (13.7) and Donald Whitehead Jr. (11.8) round out the Spartans averaging double-figure points.
• Neely (2.7) and Whitehead Jr. (2.5) are leading the team in assists per game.  
• Pinedo is leading the Spartans with 19 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.
• The Spartans will play 10 games in Bodford Arena and four games in the First Horizon Coliseum this season.
• The 2024-25 season was the eighth year out of nine with 20 or more wins for the Spartans after going 20-12 overall and 13-5 in the SoCon.
• Coach Mike Jones achieved his third year out of four winning 20 or more games last season with the Spartans.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

• Mercer was tabbed to finish eighth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Bears come into the week with a 13-4 overall record and 5-3 SoCon mark.
• Mercer most recently lost to Wofford, 80-77, snapping five-game win streak.
• The Bears have had six 100+ point games this season, which include three against SoCon foes.
• Mercer has seen Armani Mighty and Baraka Okoije both earn SoCon Player of the Week honors this season.
• The Bears are pacing the SoCon in fastbreak points (16.48), scoring offense (85.0), and turnovers forced per game (13.76).
• Mercer is second in the league in turnover margin (2.8), steals per game (9.0), scoring margin (9.7), offensive rebounds per game (13.10), free throws made per game (16.2) and blocks per game (3.6).
• Mighty paces the SoCon in blocks (39), blocks per game (1.86), field goal percentage (69.7) and offensive rebounds per game (4.05).
• Okojie leads the SoCon in assists (112), assists per game (5.6), free throw attempts (164) and free throws (139).
• Head Coach Ryan Ridder is in his second season with the Bears and finished the 2024-25 season 14-19 overall and 6-12 in the SoCon.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

• The Citadel was picked to finish last in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll ahead of the 2025-26 season.
• The Bulldogs come into Saturday's contest with a 6-15 overall record and 3-5 mark in the SoCon. They will host VMI on Thursday before welcoming the Spartans.
• The Citadel is coming off an 84-55 loss to ETSU, which snapped a two-game win streak.
• The Bulldogs are second in the SoCon in bench points per game (27.38).
• Braxton Williams (13.3) and Christian Moore (10.9) are leading the Bulldogs in double-figures.
• Williams stands out from behind the arc, averaging 2.1 three-pointers made per game.
• Sola Adebisi is pacing The Citadel in the post with a 6.0 rebounds per game average and 21 total blocks this season.
• Eze Wali leads the team in assists per game (2.3) and steals per game (1.0).
• The Citadel concluded the 2024-25 season at 5-25 overall and 0-18 in the SoCon.
• Head Coach Ed Conroy is in his eighth season at the helm of The Citadel men's basketball team.

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
To secure your tickets for UNCG men's basketball home games click HERE for options including single games and group discounts, flex plans, and full season ticket options.  For more information about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250 or email admoore10@uncg.edu. 
 
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UP NEXT
UNCG will split its time next week, first hosting Western Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Horizon Coliseum. The Spartans will then hit the road to face Furman on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina, at Timmons Arena on ESPN2.