CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Graduate student Ronald Polite III hit the game-winning three-pointer to give UNC Greensboro (UNCG) a 78-75 victory over Chattanooga on Thursday evening in The Southern Conference (SoCon) battle at McKenzie Arena.
 
The Spartans extended their win streak to four with the win and now have the 29-28 edge in the overall series. UNCG has won five-straight games at McKenzie Arena against Chattanooga.
 
Three from UNCG reached double figures including career-highs from Donovan Atwell with 28 points and Kenyon Giles with 26 points. Ronald Polite III registered 16 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of action, until a Moc layup and three-pointer gave them the lead, 11-6. Donovan Atwell scored seven-straight points for the Spartans to take a 14-13 advantage with 14:42 remaining. Chattanooga went on a 16-5 run for a 10-point lead, 29-19, with 7:50 left in the half. The Spartans scored seven-straight points jumpstarted by an Atwell three-pointer to cut the deficit to three, 29-27, with 6:07 on the clock. Atwell and Kenyon Giles drained back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game 33-33. With five seconds left in the half, Giles made UNCG's sixth three-point field goal of the game to go up 38-36 before heading to the locker room.
 
After two tied scores in the first minute of the second half, UNCG reestablished the advantage until Chattanooga had eight-straight points to take a three-point lead, 62-59, with 11:24 on the clock. The Mocs tied the game at 68-68 with 2:37 remaining and Giles responded with three-straight floaters off the glass for a four-point lead, 74-70, and 1:06 left. After a Chattanooga layup that cut the deficit to two, 74-72, Polite III made 1-of-2 free throws for the three-point edge, 75-72. With four seconds left, Chattanooga's Honor Huff drained a three-pointer, but left UNCG with enough time for Polite III to jump high over his defender for the game-winning three-pointer claiming a 78-75 win.

— UNCG Basketball (@UNCGBasketball) January 10, 2025

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• This was Giles' 15^th game with double figures this season and seventh game with 20 or more points.
• Jalen Breath and Malik Henry each had five rebounds.
• Atwell went 6-for-7 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe.
• Chattanooga had the edge in field goal percentage, 58.5-53.7.
• The Spartans outmatched the Mocs in three-point percentage, 47.8-38.9, and free throw percentage, 69.2-66.7.
• The score was tied 12 times and there were nine lead changes.
• The Mocs led in points in the paint (40-30), points off turnovers (13-11), fastbreak points (6-2) and bench points (19-4).
• UNCG led in second chance points (9-0) and rebounds (26-24).

 
RECORDS
UNCG: 10-6, 3-0 SoCon
Chattanooga: 9-7, 1-2 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. 
 
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UP NEXT
UNCG will continue on the road and 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.