CHARLESTON, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team handed The Citadel its 14^th-straight loss behind a 76-61 victory on Wednesday night at McAlister Field House in The Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
 
This marked the 18^th game this season in which three or more Spartans recorded double figures. Ronald Polite III paced the game with 22 points, matching his career high for the third time, while Donovan Atwell scored 17 points and Joryam Saizonou chipped in 13 points.
 
UNCG is now 40-10 against The Citadel in the overall series and the Spartans have claimed the last seven meetings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs made the first basket of the game, but Atwell drained the Spartans first three-pointer in response and completed a four-point play for a 4-2 lead with 18:35 on the clock. The score toggled back and forth for the rest of the half with seven lead changes and five tied scores. The Citadel's Christian Moore made a three-pointer with 2:38 left to tie the game, 30-30. With 1:11 left, Mailk Henry went up for a putback layup and the 32-30 advantage before the Bulldogs tied the game at 32-32 one last time. Polite III's jumper with 21 seconds left put the Spartans up 34-32 and the Bulldogs missed a three-pointer in their final possession to head to the break with the advantage.
 
The Spartans opened the second half with a 7-0 run for a nine-point gap, 41-32. The Bulldogs were only able to close the deficit to four three times during the second half with the final being at 12:54, 45-41. UNCG gained its first double-figure lead with 5:22 remaining on the clock after a three-pointer from Saizonou, making it 59-48. The Spartans then went up 16 twice as Polite III drained a three-pointer with 2:17 left, 69-53, and then Atwell went 2-for-2 from the free throw line with 1:48 remaining, 71-55. The Spartans then ran the clock down and held on for a 15-point victory, 76-61.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Polite III also paced the game with seven rebounds.
• Atwell went a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.
• Henry and Kenyon Giles each tallied eight points, while Demetrius Davis recorded seven points and six rebounds.
• Polite III, Davis and Miles Jones each had three assists.
• The Spartans outmatched the Bulldogs in points in the paint (32-26), points off turnovers (14-8), second chance points (13-8), fast break points (9-4) and bench points (22-14).
• UNCG had the advantage in field goal percentage (51.8-47.9), three-point percentage (36.0-32.0) and free throw percentage (81.8-53.8).
• The Spartans outrebounded the Bulldogs, 33-24, taking the edge in both offensive and defensive boards.

RECORDS
UNCG: 15-9, 8-3 SoCon
CIT: 5-17, 0-11 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. 
 
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will host Western Carolina on Saturday at the First Horizon Coliseum with a tipoff of 4:00 p.m. This will be the Spartans' Faith and Family night.