GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2024) – After passing its first Southern Conference test on Wednesday night, the ETSU men's basketball team couldn't carry momentum with them on the road. 
 
Trailing by four with just under 10 minutes to play, ETSU saw UNCG take command with a 19-2 run as the Spartans dealt the Bucs a 70-54 setback on Saturday evening inside Greensboro Coliseum. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Cold shooting limited the Bucs as they shot 34 percent from the field (20-59), 23 percent from three (7-30) and 50 percent at the free throw line (7-14). 
• The Spartans finished with a 47 percent clip from the field (28-60) and made nine of their 25 three-point attempts. UNCG finished 5-of-8 at the free throw line. 
• UNCG dominated the glass as they were plus-13, 44-31, and the Spartans finished plus-16 in the paint, 36-20. 
• The Bucs never led as UNCG scored the first 12 points and led 15-5 early on. ETSU pulled within two at the half and got to within one early in the second half, but the Bucs could never get over the hump. 
• With the loss, ETSU moved to 9-6 overall and 1-1 in league play, while UNCG – one the preseason favorites – improved to 11-4, 2-0. 

TOP PERFORMERS 

• Jaden Seymour led the Bucs with 13 points and grabbed four rebounds. 
• DJ Hughes, who played for the first time since Utah State on Dec. 29, finished plus-10 for the game. Hughes scored two points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots and picked up one steal in 13 minutes. 
• Quimari Peterson saw his streak of 20-points come to an end at three games, as he totaled 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
• Mikeal Brown-Jones led all players with 14 points, while grabbing eight rebounds for the Spartans. 

GAME SUMMARY
The Bucs weathered the storm early as UNCG scored the first 12 points and led 15-5, before ETSU started making its run to pull within two at halftime, 33-31. 
 
After surrendering the first 12 points, ETSU used an 11-3 run to pull within four at 15-11 following a three-pointer by Asamoah at the 11:03 mark. The Spartans threw one more punch at the Bucs as UNCG went back head 10, 25-15, but ETSU closed the final seven minutes on a 16-8 run to close the deficit at two. The Bucs held UNCG to 3-of-9 shooting in that closing stretch, while ETSU was 6-of-13. 
 
The Bucs had chances early in the second half but could never take the lead. 
 
ETSU had three possessions in the opening minute and nine seconds to take its first lead of the night but it was never meant to be. After missing out on the chance go ahead, the Bucs saw UNCG open up a seven-point lead at 39-32 with 17:13 remaining. 
 
The Bucs clawed back to make it a 39-36 game after Peterson made one of two free throws at the line. The Bucs had three more possessions to tie things up but they couldn't connect on the clutch shot. The Spartans made ETSU pay by pushing the lead back to eight, 44-36, with just under 13 minutes left to play. 
 
ETSU inched within four twice at 44-40 and then 48-44 before UNCG took the wind out of the Buccaneer sails with the 19-2 run to see the Spartans' lead balloon to 21, 67-46 with 3:13 showing on the clock. 
 
The Spartans closed it out for the 16-point win to remain undefeated at home this season. 
 
UP NEXT 
ETSU returns home to host Western Carolina on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. inside Freedom Hall. 
  
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's basketball tab.