ELON, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team fell to Piedmont Triad foe Elon, 73-69, on Saturday night at Schar Center in its final road contest of 2024.
 
Kenyon Giles paced the Spartans with 24 points and Ronald Polite III had 17 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Donovan Atwell started the scoring off with a three-pointer at 19:39, but the Phoenix went on an 8-2 run for its first lead of the game, 8-7. The game was tied for the first time with 15:19 on the clock on an Elon free throw, 9-9. That free throw jumpstarted a Phoenix lead for 7:30 until Giles made his second three-pointer to tie the game, 24-24, with 6:37 left in the half. The Spartans' 15-2 run, which was capped by a four-point play from Giles, gave UNCG an eight-point advantage, 33-25, with 2:16 left in the half. The Spartans headed to the locker room with their largest lead of the game, a 14-point gap, 44-30.
 
With a 16-7 run to start the second half, Elon cut the deficit to five, 51-46. The Spartans continued to hold the advantage until the Phoenix tied the game at 56 and took the lead, 58-56, with a layup from Brayden Crump at 8:03. Elon climbed to a nine-point lead with 4:46 left, 65-56, but UNCG drained three-straight three-pointers and Akrum Ahemed made a layup for a 67-65 advantage. The Phoenix closed the game with an 8-2 run securing a 73-69 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• This was Kenyon Giles' 11^th game this season scoring double figures.
• Polite III had three steals.
• Miles Jones led the Spartans with four assists and five rebounds.
• Atwell had nine points and Malik Henry had eight.
• UNCG had the advantage in field goal percentage, 46.4-38.3, three-point percentage, 41.7-17.4, and free throw percentage, 77.8-69.7.
• Elon led in points in the paint, 36-28, second-chance points, 24-5, and fastbreak points, 8-4.
• The Spartans led in bench points, 26-14, and points off turnovers, 20-18.

RECORDS
UNCG: 6-6
Elon: 8-4
 
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
The Spartans will return from the holiday break to host Virginia University of Lynchburg on Saturday, Dec. 28 in Fleming Gymnasium with a start time of 4:00 p.m.
 
Holiday offer! Purchase tickets for 50 percent for select UNCG basketball home games as part of a holiday special. Purchasers have the option to add-on special gift items including Spiro plush toy and UNCG Spartan holiday ornament while supplies last! Click here to learn more.