First-half scoring run sends UNCG past VMI, 85-68

A late first half scoring spurt quickly erased a double-digit VMI lead and sparked UNCG to an 85-68 victory over VMI in Southern Conference basketball action Sunday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Spartan freshman guard Francis Alonso hit 9 of 11 shots from the field including four 3-pointers to scored 24 points and dished out seven assists as UNCG (6-12, 2-3 SoCon) snapped a two-game losing streak.  UNCG placed four others in doubles figures scoring including sophomore point guard Diante Baldwin, who hit all five shots from the field  and dished out five assists in a 15-point outing. Junior Center R.J. White added 14 points and eight rebounds for UNCG.

Junior guard Q.J. Peterson led VMI (5-11, 0-5) in scoring and rebounding with 14 points and five rebounds and senior guard Tim Marshall knocked in a trio of 3-point shots to finish with 13 points while junior guard Julian Eleby added 12 points –  all via the long distance shot.

It was Eleby that helped VMI to an early scoring surge with three consecutive treys to help the Keydets erase an early deficit and give VMI its first lead of the game. The Keydets would reel off a 17-2 scoring run capped a by a Marshall 3-pointer to assume a 19-8 lead at the 13:14 mark of the first half.

The game took a dramatic turn as UNCG rallied to outscore the Keydets 35-6 for the remainder of the first half. Guard Asad Lamont started the comeback with a 3-pointer to key eight consecutive points to pull the hosts within two points, 21-19, but Marshall converted two of three free throws to put the Keydets up by four. A White layup produced the contest’s only tie at 23-23 with 6:53 left and White followed to put the Spartans up for good 37 seconds later with another layup. UNCG would stretch the consecutive points run to 20-0 withthe Keydets laboring through a scoreless drought of 7:48 of the first half.

UNCG took a 43-25 lead into the locker room at halftime after shooting 57.1% from the floor (16-28) and outscoring the Keydets 16-8 in the paint.

The Keydets rebounded in the second half using consecutive 3-pointers by Marshall to cut the deficit to 55-42 with 14:30 remaining and eventually came as close as 11 points (66-55) on a pair of free throws by sophomore Fred Iruafemi  with 8:42 left.

The Spartans countered with another scoring spurt – an 11-0 run- to quickly push the lead to their largest margin of the game at 22 points and were never threatened from that point. Lamont capped the run with a trey at the 6:02 mark to make it 77-55.

UNCG hit 13 of 22 shots from the floor after halftime (59.1%) while the Keydets improved to 40% after firing at 29% from the field in the first half.

VMI hit 11 of 32 three–point tries while UNCG fired away at a 45.% clip (10-of 22) from long range. The Spartans also drained 17 of 19 free throws while VMI went 11 of 17 from the charity stripe.

The Keydets posted just six turnovers – a team best this year– and held a 15-8 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored UNCG 23-15 off the bench. The Keydets had to navigate foul trouble all afternoon, however, as Iruafemi picked up four first half fouls and forwards Trey Chapman and Phillip Anglade each had four personals by the 16:30 mark of the second half.

With a three-game road swing behind them, the Keydets open a three-game homestand over six days starting Thursday night against Samford at Cameron Hall. Tipoff will be 7 pm and the game will be available on ESPN3.