GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team and Furman continue The Southern Conference (SoCon) slate with a 4:00 p.m. game on Saturday at the First Horizon Coliseum.  
 
The Spartans are 8-6 overall and the Paladins are 13-1 overall with both teams winning their SoCon opener. UNCG has the advantage over Furman, 25-21. The Spartans have claimed four of the last five meetings between the two teams and completed the regular season sweep last year with scores of 79-68 in Greensboro and then 89-87 in Greenville.
 

 
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans came out on top, 68-66, in a defensive matchup in SoCon play on New Year's Day in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
• Demetrius Davis and Ronald Polite III paced the Spartans with 16 points each.
• Polite III went a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc.
• Kenyon Giles tallied 12 points in the win.
• With the victory, UNCG handed Wofford its first loss at home after winning four straight games. The Spartans extended their regular season win streak against the Terriers to seven.
• Donovan Atwell had a team-high seven rebounds.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• Three Spartans are averaging double figures, including Giles (16.0), Atwell (13.2) and Polite III (12.9).
• Jalen Breath and Miles Jones are pacing the team with 6.2 and 5.4 rebounds per game, respectively.
• The Spartans are in the top 50 nationally in four categories, including 11^th in three-point percentage defense (27.4), 23^rd in scoring defense (63.4), 24^th in field goal percentage defense (38.5), 34^th in least number of turnovers per game (10.1) and 42^nd in three pointers per game (9.7).
• The Spartans are leading the SoCon in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense and least turnovers per game (10.7).
• UNCG is second in the SoCon in three-point percentage (37.1) and three-point percentage defense.  
• Giles is nationally ranked in total three-point field goals made (44^th/41), three-point percentage (54^th/42.7) and three-pointers per game (56^th/2.93).
• Nationally, Atwell is ranked in total three-point field goals made (36^th/42), three-point attempts (36^th/108) and three-pointers per game (48^th/3.00).
• UNCG has the advantage against its foes in points per game, 73.9-63.4, three-pointers per game, 9.7-5.8, rebounds per game, 38.5-35.4, assists per game, 14.9-11.3, and steals per game, 6.3-5.6.
• 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 The Southern Conference (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, while added seven newcomers.

 
SCOUTING FURMAN

• Furman was voted to finish fifth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• PJay Smith Jr. was selected to the 2024-25 Preseason All-SoCon Team.
• Furman is ranked No. 7 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and No. 73 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET Rankings).
• The Paladins are riding a six-game win streak after rolling to a 90-61 victory at Western Carolina in their season opener.
• The 13-1 start is the best by a Paladin team since 1931-32 and Furman's five true road wins this season is second to only UC Irvine's six road victories.
• Two Paladins are pacing the team with double figures, including Smith Jr. with 16.7 points per game and Nick Anderson with 12.0 points per game.
• Garrett Hien is dominating the boards with 5.2 rebounds per game.
• Smith Jr. (3.6) and Hien (3.4) are leading the team in assists per game.
• Cooper Bowser is averaging 1.8 blocks per game.
• Furman has the edge over its foes in points per game, 79.7-63.6, three-pointers per game, 10.9-5.6, rebounds per game, 37.6-33.2, steals per game, 6.9-6.6, and blocks per game, 6.9-6.6.
• Among the nation, the Paladins are ranked in the top 30 in eight categories: three-point percentage defense (2^nd/25.2), winning percentage (4^th/92.9), three pointers per game (15^th/10.9), assist/turnover ratio (16^th/1.68), assists per game (16^th/18.1), three-point attempts per game (17^th/29.8), effective field goal percentage (26^th/.573) and scoring defense (28^th/63.6).

 
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
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.