uncgspartans.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG men’s basketball comes within a possession of beating NC State on Sunday, falling to the Wolfpack 80-77 on a halfcourt buzzer-beater. Junior guard Isaiah Miller tallied his third straight 20-plus performance while pouring in 26 from the floor, while James Dickey secured his first double-double of the year on 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“It’s a tough way to lose,” said Head Coach Wes Miller in postgame. “I’m really proud of my group to find a way to be in the game. I thought we made a couple of big time plays down the stretch… I’ve always fell that, as a coach, don’t over-coach it. At the end of the game, put the ball in one of your best players’ hands and let him make a play. Isaiah did that, and hit a big shot, then [NC State’s] Markell [Johnson] hit a big shot…”
State jumped out to an early advantage while hitting three straight three-pointers to open the first half. The Wolfpack would move in front by as many as 12 before the Spartans got the hot hand in the last five minutes. UNCG hit four straight jumpers from beyond the arc, while going 7-for-9 in the last 4:42 to put the score at 38-37 before the break.
Keyshaun Langley would tally a career-high 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, but the second half would belong to Isaiah Miller, who scored 21 of his 26 points in the second period alone. Both sides experienced scoring swings in the final 20, with the Spartans going ahead by five to open the half, before falling behind by 13 with 10 minutes still remaining on the clock.
Miller went 7-for-10 through the final 10 minutes of Sunday’s contest as the Spartans worked their way back within a possession of their opponents with 14 ticks remaining. Working off an isolation play, Miller found the tying bucket to make it 77-77 with two seconds on the clock, before a buzzer-beating shot from NC State at halfcourt ended the afternoon 80-77 in favor of the Wolfpack.
Three Things To Know
— Isaiah Miller is averaging 17.5 points on the season, but sees that number jump up to 26 over the previous three games. He finished the afternoon against NC State with seven rebounds and three assists
— James Dickey secured his first double-double of the season and the 15th of his career with 10 boards and 11 points
— The Spartans forced an NC State team that ranks 39th in the nation in fewest turnovers to cough up possession 13 times on the afternoon
Up Next For The Spartans
The Spartans take a trip up north this Wednesday, matching up with Vermont in Burlington. UNCG has played the Catamounts just twice in program history, last facing Vermont in 1992.
— UNCG –
