Spartan Win Over Furman Marks 1,000-Point Milestone for Giles
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team won its third-straight game behind an 84-67 victory over The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Furman on Saturday afternoon at the First Horizon Coliseum.
With the feat, UNCG snapped Furman's six-game win streak and have now won five of the last six battles.
Junior Kenyon Giles paced the game with 25 points which put him over the edge of 1,000 career points. Ronald Polite III was second on the team with 18 points and Joryam Saizonou had 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Furman started the game with a 9-8 advantage before two free throws from Malik Henry began a 19-6 run for the Spartans to go up 11, 26-15, with 9:08 left in the first half. The Paladins were able to close the gap to six twice in the remaining minutes, including the later at 3:18, 35-29. UNCG then utilized an 8-3 run to head into halftime with an 11-point lead, 43-32.
Jalen Breath started the second half off with a dunk at 19:50 for a 13-point lead, 45-32. A 7-2 run from the Paladins cut the deficit to eight, 47-39, but the Spartans bounced back with five-straight points for a 13-point advantage, 52-39. Polite III drained three-pointers at 5:07 and 4:16 to give UNCG a 21-point lead, 78-57, its largest of the game. Furman's 10-6 run to close the game was not enough as UNCG earned the 84-67 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Donovan Atwell had a team-high seven rebounds.
- Giles, Breath and Saizonou each had five rebounds.
- Atwell and Demetrius Davis each scored nine points.
- Four Spartans had two steals each including Polite III, Atwell, Breath and Saizonou.
- UNCG had the advantage in points in the paint, 26-22, points off turnovers, 16-9, second-chance points, 14-12, and fastbreak points, 6-3.
- The Spartans outshot the Paladins in field goal percentage, 57.4-39.3, and three-point percentage, 52.2-25.7.
- Furman had the edge in free throw percentage, 77.8-76.9.
RECORDS
UNCG: 8-6, 2-0 SoCon
Furman: 13-2, 1-1 SoCon
TICKETS
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.
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
UNCGgear.com is your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!
UP NEXT
UNCG will hit the road next week to face Chattanooga on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5:00 p.m. at McKenzie Arena. This game will be on CBS Sports Network.
The Spartans then head to Samford for a SoCon battle at Pete Hanna Center on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT.
Latest UNCGNews
- ‘Fighters for Freedom’ Ushers in Weatherspoon Fall 2025 ExhibitionsArtwork from the Smithsonian gives UNCG’s Weatherspoon Art Museum an opportunity to connect more deeply with community artists who can add their own perspective on the Civil Rights movement and its ongoing impact. The post ‘Fighters for Freedom’ Ushers in Weatherspoon Fall 2025 Exhibitions appeared first on UNC Greensboro.
- Interest Meetings Explain Spartans Give OpportunitiesSpartans Give is UNCG's official crowdfunding platform for student groups, faculty, staff, and UNCG affiliated partners to raise funds for projects, events, equipment, and other needs. Advancement is hosting several meetings to share details about the application process, participation requirements, and how to get involved. The post Interest Meetings Explain Spartans Give Opportunities appeared first on UNC Greensboro.
- Spartans are Back for U.S. Amateur Golf ChampionshipKeenan Royalty and Dax Isbell qualified to play in San Francisco this week. It is the second consecutive year that current UNCG student-athletes have represented at this championship. The post Spartans are Back for U.S. Amateur Golf Championship appeared first on UNC Greensboro.
- Communicating Science at JSNNFrom Pakistan to Greensboro, third-year doctoral candidate Omiya Ayoub is finding her scientific place at JSNN. The post Communicating Science at JSNN appeared first on UNC Greensboro.
- New Semester Opens with Lunch with ColleaguesWith the Fall 2025 semester right around the corner, faculty and staff can catch up during lunch before getting back into the annual routine. This year’s “Welcome Back” luncheon is being held on August 12. The post New Semester Opens with Lunch with Colleagues appeared first on UNC Greensboro.
- UNCG Athletics Announces Next Hall of Fame ClassThe next class of inductees includes one student-athlete, one coach, and a team into the Athletics Hall of Fame in mid-October. The post UNCG Athletics Announces Next Hall of Fame Class appeared first on UNC Greensboro.