CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team claimed an 85-80 bounce-back win over The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Chattanooga on Thursday night at McKenzie Arena.
With the win, UNCG has now won six-straight games inside of McKenzie Arena, taking the last 10 of 14 from Chattanooga overall.
Justin Neely paced the Spartans with his 18
th double-double of the season and 25th of his career, scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Four additional Spartans reached double figures, giving UNCG its fourth game this season with five players scoring 10 or more points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans got off to a 6-0 start, as Chattanooga didn't make its first bucket until 17:06, 6-2. UNCG went up eight, 15-7, on a four-point play, thanks to
Noah Norgaard at 15:01. The Mocs responded with a three pointer and a layup to cut the deficit to three, 15-12, before an 11-3 run by the Spartans gave them an 11-point cushion, 26-15, with 10:38 left in the half. The remaining minutes of the frame went back and forth, but UNCG ended halftime with the one-point edge, 38-37.
A 9-2 run out of the break from the Spartans put them up by eight, 47-39, at 17:24. The Mocs kept the Spartans within arm's reach until 12:52, when UNCG went up 10, 60-50, and maintained a double-figure lead until 3:33 on the clock. An 11-0 run for Chattanooga, at this time, cut the deficit to three, 81-78. Norgaard then drained two free throws, 83-78, before the Mocs' Brennan Watkins responded with two from the charity stripe, 83-80. Watkins then fouled
Clinton Efinda, who made both his free throws for an 85-80 lead. Chattanooga had enough time for one final shot, but the Spartans held on for the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UNCG outmatched Chattanooga in points in the paint (30-24), fastbreak points (14-7), bench points (22-20), field goal percentage (43.8-42.2), three point percentage (33.3-31.6) and free throw percentage (80.0-77.8).
- Younger was second on the team with 17 points, two steals and five rebounds.
- Donald Whitehead Jr. tallied 11 points, while Noah Norgaard and Valentino Pinedo each had 10 points.
- Lilian Marville registered a game-best five assists.
RECORDS
UNCG: 13-17, 9-8 SoCon
Chatt: 12-18, 6-11 SoCon
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UP NEXT
The Spartans conclude regular season play with a battle against Samford on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT inside Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
