GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team was unable to get past The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe ETSU on Saturday, 87-75. This was the Spartans' final home regular season game inside Bodford Arena.

KJ Younger paced the Spartans with 20 points. Justin Neely was second on the team with 18 points, and Valentino Pinedo and Noah Norgaard rounded out the Spartans' double-figure scorers with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Prior to the game, UNCG recognized its four seniors, including Neely, Pinedo, Donald Whitehead Jr. and Clyde Bailey II.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Younger drained back-to-back three pointers to start the game and the Spartans went up seven with his third long ball of the game, 11-4, at 16:22. The next couple of minutes were back and forth until the Buccaneers cut the deficit to one, 19-18, on a three pointer at 10:40 and took their first lead of the game at 10:02, 20-19, on a layup. ETSU ran with the lead the rest of the first half and UNCG stayed within single digits. The Bucs saw their largest lead of eight in the first half with 1:37 left, 39-31.

ETSU utilized a 15-8 run in the first five minutes of the second half to climb to a 10-point gap at 14:28, 54-44, the Bucs' first double-figure advantage of the evening. A 13-7 run in favor of the Spartans, cut the deficit to four, 61-57, in three minutes of action, leaving 9:00 left in the half. ETSU stretched the lead back to double figures with 7:20 remaining, as the Spartans came within three twice late in the half. A 16-7 run for ETSU concluded the last 5:41 of action, giving the Bucs the 87-75 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Pinedo was one rebound shy of a double-double, tallying nine boards along with a career-best five assists.
• Neely was second on the team with five rebounds.
• Lilian Marville had a career-best and game-high six steals.
• ETSU led the game in field goal percentage (60.0-51.9), three point percentage (45.0-37.5) and free throw percentage (85.7-66.7).
• UNCG had the edge in fast break points (12-6) and second chance points (10-8).
• The Bucs also led in points in the paint (44-38), points off turnovers (18-12) and bench points (28-8).
• Rebounds were even (26-26).

 
RECORDS
UNCG: 12-17, 8-8 SoCon
ETSU: 21-8, 13-3 SoCon
 
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.
 
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
Click here for your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans hit the road for their final two games of the regular season, traveling first to Chattanooga on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. inside McKenzie Arena. They will then battle Samford on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT in Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama.