GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team was edged by Mercer, 79-78, on Wednesday night at the First Horizon Coliseum in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action.
 
Four Spartans recorded double figures including Ronald Polite III who paced UNCG with 20 points. Demetrius Davis recorded his first double-double of the season and second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kenyon Giles and Joryam Saizonou also chipped in 11 points each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davis and Polite III drained three-pointers to start the scoring for the Spartans, 6-0. Mercer responded with a 13-0 run to go up seven, 13-6, with 15:00 on the clock. Muon Reath's three-pointer at 12:13 tied the game for the second time, 17-17. This ball from behind the arc began a 22-0 run for the Spartans for a 19-point lead with 7:43 remaining in the first half, 36-17. With 5:01 left in the half, UNCG had an 8-4 run capped by a Giles' three-pointer to give the Spartans a 23-point gap, 44-21. The Bears went on a 12-4 run to close the deficit to 13, 48-35, as the two teams went to the locker room.
 
Mercer began the second half with a 6-2 run that cut the gap to nine, 50-41. The Spartans kept their distance though, maintaining a double-digit lead until the Bears' Marcus Overstreet made back-to-back layups for the nine-point deficit, 67-58, with 6:36 on the clock. Mercer capitalized on a 10-3 run which put the Bears within two, 70-68, with 3:37 remaining. Both teams reached the free throw line multiple times before Polite III gave the Spartans a six-point cushion with a three-pointer with 2:08 left. In a battle to the end, the Bear's Ahmad Robinson drained a three-pointer that put them within one, 78-77, with 37 seconds left and he followed that with two made free throws for the 79-78 edge. The Spartans came up short in the final seconds as Mercer walked away with the victory.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Davis' 10 rebounds were a game high and season high.
• Jalen Breath chipped in nine rebounds, while Polite III had eight boards.
• Polite III paced the Spartans with five assists.
• UNCG outrebounded Mercer 46-39.
• The Bears outmatched the Spartans in field goal percentage (42.6-35.8).
• UNCG had the advantage in three-point percentage (34.3-25.8) and free throw percentage (85.7-72.2).
• Mercer outscored UNCG in the paint (38-16).
• UNCG led in second chance points (21-12), bench points (22-18) and points off turnovers (12-10).

RECORDS
UNCG: 12-8, 5-2 SoCon
MER: 5-11, 2-5 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. 
 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will hit the road to face VMI on Saturday, Jan. 25 in Lexington, Virginia, at 1:00 p.m.