Paladins Sink Free Throws and UNCG Win Streak

UNCG 85 - Furman 93

News & Record
UNCG Athletics
Furman Athletics

Halftime: UNCG 30 - Furman 39

UNCG Stats
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (28)
Leader Rebounds: Derrell armstrong (6)
Leader Assists: Drew Parker (5)
Team FG: 26-62 (41.9%)
Team 3 Pt: 6-21 (28.6%)
Team FT: 27-31 (87.1%)
Rebounds: 40
Turnovers: 18

Furman Stats
Leader Points: Brandon Sebirumbi (20)
Leader Rebounds: Charlie Reddick (6)
Leader Assists: Charlie Reddick (4)
Team FG: 32-51 (45.1%)
Team 3 Pt: 10-19 (52.6%)
Team FT: 37-47 (78.7%)
Rebounds: 32
Turnovers: 15

Thoughts
In a game that had 56 fouls called (2 technicals) and 78 free throws, UNCG had its 7 game winning streak snapped in Greenville. Furman sank over 75% of it's ridiculous 47 free throw attempts, including 24 of 28 to close the game. Even though the Spartans hit 27-31 from the free throw line itself, they were still outscored by 10. The loss drops UNCG to 1-8 at Timmons Arena and 2-4 in road conference games this season.

It was a 9-2 Furman run before halftime that gave Furman the cushion it needed to hold off the Spartans for the entire second half. UNCG cut the lead to under 5 on at least 4 different occasions, but the Paladins had an answer every time. UNCG didn't take care of the ball as well as it has recently and didn't shoot particularly well.

The UNCG loss, coupled with a Elon win at home over the Citadel, dropped the Spartans back down to second place in the North Division by 0.5 games. Samford surprised the South Division's 2nd place team, Wofford, to climb 1.5 games behind Elon. All of this means that next weekend's Bigmingham-Chattanooga swing will be huge for both Elon and UNCG. The Spartans need to regain their swagger quickly.

UNCG (9-14) @ Furman (11-11)

When: Saturday, February 4 3 pm
Where: Timmons Arena (4,000)
TV: SoCon Netowork*/ESPN3
*Viewing Guide

Furman Athletics

Preseason Preview

UNCG Stats
Last Game: Citadel (W 82-71) Recap
PPG: 68.4
RPG: 35.4
APG: 11.7
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (17.0)
Leader Rebounds: David Williams (5.3)
Leader Assists: Drew Parker (2.5)
FG %: 39.8
3 Pt %: 32.9
FT %: 66.3

Furman Stats
Last Game: Davidson (L 53-71) Recap
PPG: 64.2
RPG: 34.2
APG: 10.9
Leader Points: Brandon Sebirumbi (10.7)
Leader Rebounds: Brandon Sebirumbi (5.5)
LeaderAssists: Richard Brown (3.3)
FG %: 41.3
3 Pt %: 33.5
FT %: 73.6

Thoughts
Well, that little home stand was awful fun for us Spartan fans. But now is where it gets interesting. UNCG finished with 5 of its last 7 games on the road. If UNCG is going to bet a SoCon tournament bye, they are going to have to go out and earn it.

The road to the tournament starts at Timmons Arena in Greenville on Saturday afternoon. It's a place where UNCG sports a sad 1-7 record. The Paladins lost a lot with the graduation of Amu Sakaa and Noah States. However, Furman has rebounded based on aless than steller schedule and the play Brandon Sebirumbi.

Statistically, there's not a lot of difference between Furman and UNCG. The Paladins have been pretty pedestrian at home (2-3) in conference games and the Spartans have been pretty pedestrian on the road (2-3) in conference games.

So, this game looks like a toss-up. Hopefully, UNCG can lean on its winning ways and continue the streak. Go Spartans!!!

Updated SoCon Standings

As of 2/3 ...

North
1. UNCG (7-4)
2. Elon (6-4)
3. Samford (5-6)
3. App State (5-6)
5. Western Carolina (4-7)
6. Chattanooga (3-8)

South
1. Davidson (10-1)
2. Wofford (8-3)
3. Ga Southern (7-4)
4. Furman (5-6)
5. Charleston (5-7)
6. Citadel (1-10)

Citadel Post Game

Coach Wes Miller gives a lot credit to Citadel's coaches forkeeping their guys fighting. It's a great point he makes. The video is from UNCG's YouTube page.

"The word streak doesn't exist in the UNCG vocabulary." -Wes Miller



- WFMY News 2 (via DigTraid.com) recap & video.

-UNCG Sports Blog recap.

Simpson leads UNCG to Seventh Straight Win

UNCG 82 - Citadel 71

News & Record
UNCG Athletics
Citadel Athletics

Halftime: UNCG 39 - Citadel 29

UNCG Stats
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (23)
Leader Rebounds: Trevis Simpson (7)
Leader Assists: Korey van Dussen (7)
Team FG: 31-58 (53.4%)
Team 3 Pt: 8-20 (40.0%)
Team FT: 12-16 (75.0%)
Rebounds: 35
Turnovers: 16

Citadel Stats
Leader Points: Mike Groselle (20)
Leader Rebounds: Mike Groselle (8)
Leader Assists: DeVontae Wright, Marshall Harris, Lawrence Miller (3 tie)
Team FG: 24-56 (42.9%)
Team 3 Pt: 5-12 (41.7%)
Team FT: 18-25 (72.0%)
Rebounds: 28
Turnovers: 13

Thoughts
UNCG decided the last contest with the Bulldogs was a little too close. So this time, the Spartans pushed ahead by double digits midway through the second half and cruised to a victory. Derrell Armstrong (14 pts, 5 rebs, 4 assists), Aloysuis Henry (13 pts, 6 rebs) and Kyle Randall (7 pts) came off the bench to really spark G. Citadel's LawrenceMiller (15 pts) seemed to ignite UNCG's Trevis Simpson (23 pt, 7 rebs) with a little second half trash talk. However, it was the good defense played on SoCon POY candidate Mike Groselle (20 pts, 8rebs) that helped UNCG pick up the win.

That runs UNCG's home winning streak to 5 and overall streak to 7. The Spartans still only find themselves 0.5 games ahead of Elon, who defeated Charleston in 2OT. So, the run will need to continue if the Spartans are going to earn a North Division title. 5 of UNCG's last 7 games are going to be played on the road. That stretch starts on Saturday afternoon at Furman.

Citadel (4-17) @ UNCG (8-14)

When: Thursday, February 2 7 pm
Where: Greensboro Coliseum (7,617/23,500)
TV: None/Spartan All-Access

Citadel Athletics

Preseason Preview

1/14 UNCG 67 @ Citadel 66 Recap

UNCG Stats
Last Game: Western Carolina (W 89-86 OT) Recap
PPG: 67.8
RPG: 35.5
APG: 11.5
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (16.7)
Leader Rebounds: David Williams (5.3)
Leader Assists: Drew Parker (2.5)
FG %: 39.2
3 Pt %: 32.6
FT %: 66.0

Citadel Stats
Last Game: Furman (L 58-67) Recap
PPG: 65.9
RPG: 32.5
APG: 14.0
Leader Points: Mike Groselle (17.3)
Leader Rebounds: Mike Groselle (9.6)
Leader Assists: DeVontae Wright (2.8)
FG%: 44.1
3 Pt %: 34.0
FT %: 64.4

Thoughts
It took a full-on miracle for UNCG to escape Charleston with a "W" at McAlister Fieldhouse. That was only 3 weeks ago. While everyone is patting the team and coaches on the back, I hope they remember that if Mike Groselle catches the errant pass, UNCG wouldn't be on a 6 game winning streak.

If this current season of SoCon basketball tells us anything, it's that if you don't come to play you will lose. Look at Samford. They gave Citadel their only conference win and Davidson it's only conference loss. There is very little difference between any of the 12 teams.

The Spartans have went from worst to first in the span of 3 weeks. However, it's gonna take a good closing month in order to earn that conference tournament bye. UNCG only has 3 home games left and it needs to win all three.

To win this one, Trevis Simpson and Derrell Armstrong are going to have to continue their good play. The Spartans are going to have to better defense than they did in Charleston (Citadel FG 22-44, 3 Pt 8-13) and rebound better (Citadel 31 - UNCG 27). Mike Groselle is probably the best player in the SoCon. It will take a group effort (with minimal fouls) to contain him. Go Spartans !!!

SoCon BracketBusters Matchups

I've had so much other stuff going on this week that I forgot to report that the matchups for this year's Sears BracketBusters event were announced on Monday. Four SoCon teams are participating this year. Davidson's home game will be televised on one of the ESPN networks. The participants were determined before the start of the season. UNCG has participated in the event twice, losing at St. Peter's (2006-2007) and winning at home against UNCW (2007-2008).

2012 Southern Conference BracketBuster Matchups
- Wichita State (18-4 9-2 MVC) @ Davidson (15-5, 9-1)
- Winthrop (9-14, 6-6 Big South) @ App State (9-11, 5-5)
- Charleston (13-9, 5-6) @ Kent State (14-6, 4-3 MAC)
- Wofford (15-8, 8-3) @ Charleston Southern (14-7, 8-3 Big South)