Greensboro's UNCG Spartans Hold Off Chattanooga 85-80 in SoCon Win

UNC Greensboro beat Chattanooga 85-80 at McKenzie Arena on February 26, 2026, holding a lead from early in the first half and traveling next to Samford for a 6:00 p.m. ET tipoff on February 28. UNCG’s win closed out a portion of its Southern Conference regular-season slate and came in front of an announced crowd of 4,164 fans.

The Spartans led 38-37 at halftime and outscored the Mocs 47-43 in the second half to finish 85-80, a margin that the UNCG recap summarized bluntly: "Men’s Basketball Led from End to End in 85-80 Win Over Chattanooga." UNCG shot 28-of-64 (.438) from the floor, hit 33.3 percent from three, and posted an .800 free-throw percentage while converting 20 free throws in the game.

UNCG’s box-score totals showed 37 rebounds to Chattanooga’s 36, and a turnover deadlock at 10 apiece; UNCG also recorded seven steals to Chattanooga’s three. Justin Neely, listed as jersey No. 12 on the UNCG roster, is identified in team game leaders as both the points and rebounds leader and was noted by The UTC Echo as "the Southern Conference leader in rebounds and defensive rebounds." KJ Younger provided early scoring touch and is listed as UNCG’s free-throw leader in the official game summary. Other Spartans appearing in the UNCG game roster include Donald Whitehead Jr. (No. 13), Valentino Pinedo (No. 11), Clinton Efinda (No. 2) and Noah Norgaard (No. 6).

The game's opening sequence set the tone for a tight contest: Chattanooga had the first possession, then Neely scored UNCG’s first points, and KJ Younger "made another basket in the first two minutes." Chattanooga countered when guard Billy Smith hit the Mocs’ first three to invigorate the crowd, and the home fans grew louder after officiating calls heated the evening. "After several contentious officiating decisions, including a major foul called against Neely with 14:28 remaining, the audience became more and more boisterous," The UTC Echo reported.

Chattanooga mounted a late surge, with Jordan Frison (No. 5) and Brennan Watkins cutting UNCG’s cushion to a single possession in the final minutes through baskets and trips to the line. "In the final minutes, Chattanooga cut the lead to one possession thanks to late baskets and free throws from Brennan Watkins and Frison, but UNCG responded at the free-throw line to win," the Echo wrote; a campus photo accompanying game coverage shows Frison moving through UNCG defenders and passing for an assist.

With composure down the stretch and a strong showing at the charity stripe, UNCG held on for the five-point road victory and prepares to face Samford on Feb. 28 at 6:00 p.m. ET as it finishes this segment of its SoCon schedule.