GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team will host VMI on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the First Horizon Coliseum.
 
The Spartans will then begin a three-game road stretch starting at Furman on Saturday for a noon tip-off in Greenville South Carolina, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
 
UNCG is in a three-way tie for first place in the SoCon standings with Samford and Chattanooga with a 9-3 conference record. The Spartans are 16-9 overall on the 2024-25 season. VMI heads to Greensboro with a 6-6 SoCon mark and is 12-13 overall. Furman currently stands at 18-7 overall and is 6-6 in the conference. Furman and VMI are currently tied for seventh place in the league.
 
UNCG has the overall series advantage against the Keydets, 25-10. The Spartans claimed the Jan. 25 meeting over VMI, 60-57, in Lexington.
 
UNCG has the overall advantage over Furman, 26-21. The Spartans defeated the Paladins, 84-67, in the two team's meeting on Jan. 4 in Greensboro.
 

 
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG went 2-0 last week after taking down The Citadel, 76-61, in Charleston on Wednesday and then returning to Greensboro to defeat Western Carolina, 74-40 on Saturday.   
• Three Spartans tallied double figure points in the team's win over the Catamounts.
• Ronald Polite III paced the game with 18 points, while Donovan Atwell had 12 points and Demetrius Davis had 10 points.
• Jalen Breath registered 11 rebounds.
• Polite III also paced the game with seven rebounds.
• Joryam Saizonou, Akrum Ahemed  and Breath each had eight points.
• Malik Henry chipped in six points, six rebounds and three blocks.
• The Spartans had the advantage in field goal percentage (44.1-37.1).
• The Catamounts outmatched UNCG in three-point percentage (37.5-29.2) and free throw percentage (92.3-75.0).

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• Three Spartans are averaging double figures, including Kenyon Giles (15.8), Atwell (14.1) and Polite III (13.8).
• Breath (6.6), Henry (4.6) and Miles Jones (4.0) are pacing the team in rebounds per game.
• The Spartans are in the top 50 nationally in six categories, including three-point percentage (24^th/37.8), field goal percentage defense (27^th/40.0), scoring defense (27^th/64.9), three-point percentage defense (29^th/29.8), turnovers per game (34^th/10.2) and three-pointers per game (35^th/9.6).
• The Spartans are leading the SoCon in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense, three-point percentage, three-point percentage defense and turnovers per game.
• Nationally, Atwell is ranked in the top 50 in total three-point field goals made (8^th/80) three-pointers per game (16^th/3.20), three-point attempts (22^nd/193) and three-point percentage (40^th/41.5).
• Atwell is leading the conference in three-point attempts, three-point percentage and total three-point field goals made. He is second in three-pointers per game.
• UNCG has the advantage against its foes in points per game, 73.6-64.9, three-pointers per game, 9.6-6.9, rebounds per game, 37.1-33.6 and assists per game, 13.1-10.9.
• 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.
• 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 VMI

• The Keydets went 1-1 at home last week after falling in a 62-55 matchup to ETSU on Wednesday but earning an 82-70 win over The Citadel on Saturday.
• VMI ranks among the top 50 nationally in free throw percentage (46^th/76.0), three-point attempts per game (32^nd/28.0) and three-pointers per game (48^th/9.4).
• VMI is leading the SoCon in free throw attempts per game (20.2) and free throws made per game (15.4).
• Rickey Bradley Jr. is pacing the league and is 28^th in the country with 118 free throws.
• TJ Johnson stands out in the top 50 in the country in three-point attempts (35^th/184), total three-point field goals made (40^th/70) and three-pointers per game (43^rd/2.92).
• Bradley Jr. is leading the team with 390 points, 117 field goals and 118 free throws.
• Johnson paces the squad with 70 three-pointers.
• Augustinas Kiudulas leads the Keydets with 146 rebounds.
• Tan Yildizoglu is the best passer on the team with 99 dimes.
• AJ Clark stands out defensively with 20 blocked shots and 44 steals.
• The Keydets have seen one SoCon Player of the Week this season with Bradley Jr. earning the feat on Jan. 20.
• VMI was voted to finish last in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.

 
SCOUTING FURMAN

• The Paladins went 1-1 last week after taking an 84-75 overtime win against Western Carolina on Wednesday in Greenville, but falling at Chattanooga, 85-72 on Saturday.
• Furman leads the SoCon in fouls per game with a 15.2 average.
• The 'Dins stand out in the top 50 nationally in three-point attempts per game (12^th/29.8), three-pointers per game (18^th/10.3), assists per game (19^th/17.1), assist/turnover ratio (21^st/1.56), three-point percentage defense (40^th/30.5) and fouls per game (50^th/15.2).
• Cooper Bowser paces the league in blocks (41) and blocks per game (1.64).
• Bowser's 41 blocks puts him at 36^th in the country.
• PJay Smith Jr. leads the conference with a 3.22 three-pointers per game average.
• Smith Jr. ranks among the top-50 in the country in three categories including, three-pointers per game (14^th/3.22), total three-point field goals made (16^th/74^th) and three-point attempts (35^th/184).
• Smith Jr. is leading the Paladins with 376 points, 121 field goals, 74 three-pointers, 60 free throws, 82 assists and 31 steals.
• Ben VanderWal and Bowser stand out defensively with 138 rebounds and 41 blocks, respectively.
• Smith Jr. has been named SoCon Player of the Week on three occasions this season (Nov. 11, Nov. 18 & Dec. 23).
• Furman was voted to finish fifth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Smith Jr. was selected to the 2024-25 Preseason All-SoCon Team.
• Furman will host Mercer on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. before welcoming UNCG on Saturday. 

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. 
 
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
The Spartans will close out their regular season road schedule next week to take on ETSU on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Johnson City and Mercer on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Macon.