UNCG combines strong defense and offensive bursts to hold off ETSU

 

UNCG used large runs in both halves and a feisty defensive effort to get a win Saturday.  (Photo:  UNCG Athletics)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG started its season 6-0 at home between its two courts at Fleming Gym and the Greensboro Coliseum. To get to 7-0, the Spartans would need to get past an ETSU squad that came to the Gate City off an 11-point win against Mercer and had won three of its last four in Greensboro.

The Spartans led by a perilous pair at the interval, but used a 16-2 second-half run to pull away from the Bucs. Mikeal Brown-Jones led three Spartans in double figures and 10 Spartans scored at least two points in a 70-54 result before an announced crowd of 1,182 at Greensboro Coliseum Saturday.

“The number 54 sticks out,” UNCG coach Mike Jones said after the game. “We’ve been fighting for that number all year. We have to be able to be a 40-minute team and tonight was probably the closest we’ve come all season to playing a full 40 minutes, especially on the defensive end of the floor.”

UNCG (11-4, 2-0 SoCon) started the game with some offensive numbers that probably stuck out to Jones. The Spartans raced to a 15-5 lead, hitting six of their first seven shots and all three three-pointers they attempted. ETSU (9-6, 1-1) countered after Brooks Savage called a timeout, gradually pulling within five after a Tyler Rice layup with 6:28 to go in the opening period. Karon Boyd converted a layup at the 1:05 mark to cut the Spartan lead to two. The lead remained at two at the break, with the Spartans ahead, 33-31.

“We started the game poorly with poor execution of the plan defensively,” ETSU coach Brooks Savage said. “We just didn’t play very well. You can’t not play well and beat good teams.”

ETSU had a chance to level the contest for the first time just shy of 50 seconds into the second half but could manage just one of two free throws. UNCG then produced a small 6-0 burst to surge ahead by seven before the visitors again pulled within one possession at 39-36. ETSU had two separate three-point attempts that again would have leveled the game and could get neither to fall. Miles Jones then hit a three-pointer on the other end that would again extend the lead to six.

“Against good teams, you only get so many opportunities to grab the game in your grasp, and we didn’t capitalize on any of those,” Savage said. “We were playing from behind the whole game and didn’t seize the opportunities to make shots when we needed to get the lead.”

Ebby Asamoah dropped a three and Jadyn Parker hit a free throw to narrow the Bucs’ deficit to four with 9:21 remaining. The Spartans then unfurled their second prolonged burst of the game, with Keshaun Langley tallying 10 of the 16 points in the 16-2 stretch. Langley poured in the first seven of the run, knocking down a three and converting back-to-back two-point efforts. The run gave the home side its largest lead of the night at 21 with 3:13 left, which helped the Spartans salt away the decision.

“Keyshaun was really instrumental during that stretch in the second half,” Jones said. “He completely took over the game from a playmaking standpoint. He scored the ball but he also made plays. When he’s playing like that, that makes us a lot tougher.”

UNCG held ETSU to just 30.8 percent (8-for-25) from the floor in the second half and 33.9 percent (20-for-59) for the game. Jones was pleased with the defensive effort against the Bucs’ powerful offense.

“In their last five games, they were averaging like 82 points per game,” Jones said. “They had 31 at the half and we made them take some tough ones. We also turned the ball over and gave them some opportunities in transition. In the second half, there were very few opportunities in transition. I thought we rebounded the ball very well and made them take tough shots and finished the possessions with rebounds, which is key.”

Brown-Jones paced UNCG and all scorers with 14, making 5-of-6 from the floor and all four free throw tries. Forward Jalen Breath tallied a double-double, scoring 10 points and snatching 11 boards. Langley also added 10 and dished six dimes. The Spartans shot 46.7 percent (28-for-60) from the floor, bolstered by a 51.7 percent effort in the second 20.

Jaden Seymour led ETSU scorers with 13 on the night, hitting 5-of-12 from the floor. Asamoah hit three three-pointers as part of his 11, while Quimari Peterson totaled 10. ETSU shot just 7-of-30 (23.3 percent) from distance and 7-of-14 from the line.

Both sides return to SoCon play Wednesday night. UNCG travels to the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala., to square off with Samford in its conference road opener. Game time is set for 8:00 (Eastern). ETSU welcomes Western Carolina to Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn., Wednesday night. That contest is set for a 7:00 (Eastern) tip, with streaming coverage over ESPN+.

UNCG 70, ETSU 54

ETSU (9-6, 1-1 SOCON)

Boyd 1-4 2-3 4, Seymour 5-12 1-2 13, Parker 3-6 1-2 7, Peterson 3-15 3-4 10, Asamoah 4-13 0-0 11, Hughes 1-2 0-2 2, Sisk 1-2 0-0 3, Rice 2-5 0-1 4, Ilic 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 7-14 54.

UNCG (11-4, 2-0)

Brown-Jones 5-6 4-4 14, Atwell 3-8 0-0 8, Breath 5-6 0-2 10, Ke. Langley 4-14 0-0 10, Ko. Langley 3-5 0-0 7, Ceaser 3-5 0-0 8, Jones 1-3 0-0 3, Saizonou 2-6 0-0 5, Ahemed 1-4 0-0 2, Reath 0-0 0-0 0, Kauzonas 1-2 1-2 3, Webb 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-60 5-8 70.

Halftime:  UNCG 33-31. 3-Point goals:  UNCG 9-25 (Atwell 2-6, Ke. Langley 2-8, Ko. Langley 1-3, Ceaser 2-3, Jones 1-2, Saizonou 1-2, Ahemed 0-1), ETSU 7-30 (Boyd 0-2, Seymour 2-6, Peterson 1-6, Asamoah 3-11, Sisk 1-2, Rice 0-3). Fouled out:  NA. Rebounds:  UNCG 44 (Breath 11), ETSU 31 (Boyd/Parker/Peterson 5). Assists:  UNCG 17 (Ko. Langley 8), ETSU 6 (Rice 3). Total fouls:  ETSU 12, UNCG 12. Technicals:  NA.

Points off turnovers:  UNCG 11, ETSU 9.  Points in the paint:  UNCG 36, ETSU 20.  Second-chance points:  ETSU 14, UNCG 8.  Fast-break points:  ETSU 3, UNCG 2.  Bench points:  UNCG 21, ETSU 9.