GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team opens its 2024-25 road slate with a non-conference battle against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe SMU on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT inside the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas.  
 
This is the first meeting between the two teams.
 

 
LAST SEASON FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG concluded last season 21-11 overall and 12-6 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
• This was the seventh year out of eight with 20 or more wins for the Spartans.
• This was the second out of three years under Head Coach Mike Jones that the Spartans won 20 or more games.
• The Spartans won the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in November in the Bahamas.
• The 2023-24 squad made history as a team, defeating then-ranked No. 14 Arkansas, 78-72, in Fayetteville for the programs' first ranked win.
• UNCG concluded the 2023-24 season ranked in the top 50 nationally in five categories, including fourth in three-point percentage (39.7), 12^th in three pointers per game (10.1), 32^nd in field goal percentage defense (41.0), 34^th in effective field goal percentage (.546) and 42^nd in three-point attempts per game (25.4).
• The Spartans led the conference in three-point percentage.
• Jalen Breath is the top returning rebounder for the Spartans, after averaging a career-best 6.1 boards per game last season.
• Donovan Atwell is the top returning scorer for UNCG, averaging a career-best 11.2 points per game in 2023-24.
• UNCG outmatched its opponents in scoring 75.7-69.8, rebounding 35.4-33.8 and steals 7.0-5.8.

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG secured a 73-64 home victory over FGCU last Monday to begin the season in the First Horizon Coliseum
• Four Spartans recorded double figures, including Breath who recorded his third-career double-double of the season (11pts, 10reb).
• Breath's 10 boards were a game high, and he went a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.
• Atwell and Kenyon Giles paced the team with 17 points each, while Ronald Polite III chipped in 10 points.
• Demetrius Davis contributed six points and nine rebounds. His nine boards are a new career high.
• UNCG outmatched FGCU 30-14 in points from the bench, fast-break points (13-2), points off turnovers (9-8) and second-chance points (10-8).
• The Spartans shot 52.63-percent (10-for-19) from behind-the-arc during the first half.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans were voted to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Atwell was voted to the Preseason All-SoCon team.
• The Spartans return nine from last year's roster, while adding seven newcomers.
• UNCG has 13 regular season non-conference games this season: five home, five away and three neutral.
• Non-conference breakdown: CAA (2), ASUN (2), Big South (1), ACC (1), Big Ten (1), Big West (1), Mountain West (1), Conference USA (1), NCCAA (1), DIII (2)
• The Spartans opened the 2024-25 season with their first of two SoCon/ASUN battles including Florida Gulf Coast, taking the win 73-64.
• There will be six games in Fleming Gymnasium and eight in the First Horizon Coliseum this season.
• UNCG begins its SoCon slate with a game on New Year's Day, traveling to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to face off against Wofford and the Spartans conclude regular season conference play on March 1 against Samford in Greensboro.
• UNCG travels to Wofford on Jan. 1 and Chattanooga on Jan. 9 and will play on the CBS Sports Network.
• The Spartans' game at ETSU on Feb. 19 will be on ESPNU, while the team will host Samford on March 1 on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• Giles joins 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 Malik Henry both come 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 joins the Spartans after playing the last two seasons at Chattanooga and one year each at Lawson State Community College and Augusta.

 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

• This is SMU's inaugural season in the ACC.
• Head Coach Andy Enfield is in his first year at the helm after 11 seasons at USC.
• The Mustangs concluded the 2023-24 season 20-13 overall and 11-7 in the American.
• They received a bid into the 2024 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) where they fell to the top-seeded Indiana State, 101-92.
• In the 18-team league, SMU was voted to finish 13^th in the ACC Preseason Poll.
• The Mustangs return starters Chuck Harris, Keon Ambrose-Hylton and B.J. Edwards.
• So far, the Mustangs are 2-0 to begin the 2024-25 season earning wins over Tarleton State, 96-62, and Florida A&M, 102-73.
• Six from SMU are averaging double figures, including Boopie Miller who paces the team with 20.5 points a game. Miller also leads the team with 8.0 assists per game.
• Yohan Traore leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game.
• Ambrose-Hylton is averaging 2.0 blocks per game, while Kario Oquendo, Edwards and Miller are each averaging 3.5 steals per game.

 
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 return to Greensboro and host North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium as part of a doubleheader with the women hosting Appalachian State at 3:30 p.m.  
 
For the men's game, tickets have a buy one, get one free promotion and the men's ticket will get you into the women's game for free! There will also be Operation Christmas Child Donation Drive!