Game #27 - at UNCG

Western Carolina opened the SoCon season back on January 2d against the UNCG Spartans in the friendly confines of the Ramsey Center, where the Cats easily retired the Spartans by a final score of 72-51. The Catamounts are 10-1 against the Spartans in the last eleven games played, however this will not be a "give me" for the Cats.  The Spartans have played well in most of their games,despite their 12-14 record and will give Western a run for their money at home.

Third year head coach Wes Miller's Spartans are currently in 6th place in the SoCon and are 12-14 overall, 5-5 at home, and 5-6 in the SoCon.

On Thursday, the Spartans ended a 2 game losing streak at Georgia Southern, however, they are losers of 5 of their last 7 games. The Spartans are in 7th place in scoring offense in the SoCon with 70.8 points per game, but are in 5th place in scoring defense, giving up 73.4 points per game. In a somewhat fortunate stat for the Cats, the Spartans rank 8th in the conference in free throw shooting, hitting 67.8% of their attempts, however the Spartans lead the conference in defensive rebounding, which won't change in the WCU game.

Forward Kyle Cain leads the Spartans in scoring at 15.7 ppg while scoring in double figures in 23 out of 25 games this season.  Freshman Tevon Saddler is scoring 12.7 ppg and Kayel Locke puts up 12.o ppg.

UNCG probable starters- 
#0 Tevon Saddler, 6-4, 207 lbs, Freshman, guard
#1 Drew Parker, 6-1 207 lbs, Sr, guard
#13 Kayle Locke, 6-5 240 lbs, So, forward
#14 Kyle Cain, 6-7 210 lbs, Jr, forward
#31 Nicholas Paulos, 6-7 185 lbs, Jr, forward

After the Cats' lack luster play, inconsistent offense, and poor defensive play against Chattanooga on Friday night, expect more problems in Greensboro against UNCG, as the Cats drop this game to the Spartans, 73-77, and a tournament bye slips slowly out of their grasp.

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