GREENSBORO, NC - Josh Gross scored a career-high 17 points, including 13 in the second half, to lead the UNC Greensboro men's basketball team to a 76-57 victory over VMI on Monday night in Fleming Gymnasium. The victory snapped a UNCG 10-game losing skid.
The win improves UNCG's record to 4-11 overall and 1-3 in Southern Conference play. VMI slips to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in league play.
UNCG went into the halftime break with a hard fought 33-27 advantage, despite shooting just 35.5% from the floor. VMI came out firing in the second half and quickly tied the game at 41-41 at the 14:27 mark.
Over the next seven minutes of the game the Spartans went on a 18-8 run capped off by a steal and layup by Danny Hargrove to pull ahead 59-49. The Spartans continued to pull away and finished the game in grand style as Ray Bristow, a 6-0 freshman guard, rammed home a dunk to set the final score, 76-57.
Gross was 5-of-8 from the floor and connected on both 3-point attempts en route to his career-high 17 points. James Maye and Bristow each added 15 in the Spartans' cause, while Jay Joseph chipped in 11 points. Bristow also led the Spartans' with five assists and four steals. In addition to Maye's 15 points, he also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
As a team, UNCG handed out 13 assists, blocked four shots, recorded 12 steals and committed just 10 turnovers. UNCG also shot 55.2% in the second half while VMI was held to 36.7% in both halves. The Spartans' defense pressured VMI into 16 turnovers and just seven assists.
Radee Skipworth paced the Keydet attack with 14 points. Ben Rand added 11 points on three 3-pointers and Tim Allmond grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds.
UNCG will return to action again on Saturday, January 18, at home against Georgia Southern. Tip-off is slated for noon. VMI returns to the hardwood on Saturday as well as they host East Tennessee State at 1 pm in Cameron Hall.
(Story courtesy UNCG sports information)
VMI Coach Bart Bellairs - They hit some shots, but I was just disappointed in our toughness.I just didn't think we went and got the ball. They had three straight possessions with loose balls and we didn't dive on the floor. UNCG was ready, but we were right there where we wanted to be in the second half. We didn't make enough plays and we weren't strong with the ball tonight. 16 turnovers - we drove the ball inside a couple of times and they just stripped us, and shoot layups on the other end. Those were huge plays. We didn't shoot well enough, we didn't guard it well enough in the second. We played okay in the first half, but we didn't play well in the second half.But I'll give UNCG the credit, they did some good things.
