GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team returns to Greensboro to host The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer on Wednesday at First Horizon Coliseum at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Spartans are 12-7 overall and 5-1 in SoCon play. The Bears are 9-10 overall and 2-4 in the conference. UNCG is 7-0 in home games.
 
UNCG has the advantage against the Bears in the all-time series, 13-10. Mercer took both games during the regular season last year. The Bears won 70-64 in Greensboro and then 86-72 in Macon, Georgia. The Spartans swept the regular season series against the Bears during the 2022-23 season.
 

 
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG took two wins last week in SoCon play, earning a 70-57 victory at home against The Citadel and then an 83-55 win over Western Carolina (WCU) on the road.
• UNCG won its eighth straight game against the Catamounts and have now taken the last 16 of 17 games played against WCU.
• Three Spartans tallied double figures, including Donovan Atwell who paced the team with 17 points. Kenyon Giles registered 15 points and Ronald Polite III had 11 points.
• Polite III added a game-high six assists.
• Jalen Breath had a team-high six rebounds and chipped in eight points.
• The first half had nine lead changes and one tied score, while UNCG led from end to end in the second half.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• Three Spartans are averaging double figures, including Giles (16.8), Atwell (14.6) and Polite III (12.8).
• Breath (5.6), Miles Jones (4.5) and Henry (4.3) are pacing the team in rebounds per game.
• The Spartans are in the top 50 nationally in six categories, including three-point percentage defense (7^th/28.0), turnovers per game (19^th/9.9), three-point percentage (11^th/39.5), scoring defense (21^st/64.1), three-pointers per game (27^th/10.2) and field goal percentage defense (33^rd/39.8).
• The Spartans are leading the SoCon in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense, three-point percentage, three-point percentage defense and turnovers per game.
• Giles is nationally ranked in the top 50 in three-point percentage (13th/44.9), total three-pointers per game (43rd/2.94) and total three-point field goals made (43^rd/53).
• Nationally, Atwell is ranked in the top 50 in total three-point field goals made (5th/66), three-pointers per game (8th/3.47), total three-point attempts (22^nd/150) and three-point percentage (23^rd/44.0).
• Atwell is leading the conference in three-point attempts, three-pointers per game and total three-point field goals made, while Giles is at the top of the league in three-point percentage. 
• Joryam Saizonou is second in the conference with a 1.97 assist/turnover ratio.
• The Spartans' 7-0 start at home continues to match last year's start, where UNCG went 9-0 to begin the season.
• UNCG has the advantage against its foes in points per game, 74.7-64.1, three-pointers per game, 10.2-6.2, rebounds per game, 36.6-33.9, assists per game, 14.2-11.0, and steals per game, 6.4-5.4.
• Giles joined the Spartans after two years at Radford, where he was first on the team with 1.4 steals per game and second on the team with 14.3 points per game.
• Polite III and Henry both came to UNCG with four years previously at George Mason. Polite III has averaged 7.38 points per game and 2.5 assists per game. Henry contributed a 62.5-percentage in field goals during his time with the Patriots.
• Demetrius Davis joined the Spartans after playing the last two seasons at Chattanooga and one year each at Lawson State Community College and Augusta.
• UNCG concluded last season 21-11 overall and 12-6 in SoCon and it was the seventh year out of eight with 20 or more wins for the Spartans.
• The Spartans were voted to finish sixth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll and Atwell was voted to the 2024-25 Preseason All-SoCon team.
• The Spartans returned nine from last year's roster and added seven newcomers.

 
SCOUTING MERCER

• Mercer was voted to finish seventh in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Bears have lost the last four games.
• Mercer has the edge over its opponents in points per game, 79.8-75.6, three-pointers per game, 8.8-8.4, rebounds per game, 38.9-38.2, and steals per game, 9.5-8.0.
• Three Bears are pacing the team with double figures, including Ahmad Robinson with 16.5 points per game, Tyler Johnson with 15.5 points per game and Alex Holt with 12.7 points per game.
• Robinson is leading the team with 2.2 steals per game and 5.2 assists per game. He is ranked nationally in steals (22^nd/42), steals per game (32^nd), assists (36^th/99) and assists per game (44^th).
• Holt paces the team with 7.6 rebounds per game.
• Holt is ranked 15^th nationally and is leading the SoCon in field goal percentage (60.7).
• Nationally, the Bears are 20^th in fastbreak points (15.05), 23^rd in steals per game (9.5) and 44^th in turnovers forced per game (14.63).
• Mercer is second among the conference in fastbreak points, defensive rebounds per game (27.16), rebounds per game (38.89), scoring offense (79.8), steals per game, turnover margin (2.0) and turnovers forced per game.

 
TICKETS FOR HOME SPARTAN GAMES
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.  The home basketball schedule includes eight (8) home games at First Horizon Coliseum and Six (6) home games at Fleming Gymnasium. To learn more about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250. 
 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road to face VMI on Saturday, Jan. 25 in Lexington, Virginia, at 1:00 p.m.