SoCon Basketball Update (1-13-17)

Thursday's games.......

Two more games were on the tap for Thursday, No real surprise in the out some of either of these games, as both were toss-ups, who wanted the win more.


UNCG  at  ETSU
Outside shooting lifts UNCG past ETSU, 83-79
It took an uncharacteristically good shooting performance and an individual player hitting more threes in a single game than he had all season, but the UNCG Spartans were glad to take the effort in a hard fought 83-79 win over the ETSU men’s basketball team Thursday night at Freedom Hall. In a matchup of teams atop the Southern Conference standings, the Spartans connected on 13 3-pointers, shot a remarkable 65 percent (13-of-20) from beyond the arc, and got five 3-pointers from post R.J. White – a player who had made three 3-pointers all season – to improve to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in SoCon play. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers – who entered the game in first place – remain tied for first in the loss column, dropping to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in league action.
Attendance:  4,112

Western Carolina  at  VMI
Keydets Capture Dramatic Win Over WCU, 79-78
In a game that featured seven ties and 18 lead changes, Keith Smith blocked a potential go-ahead three-pointer as time expired and the VMI Keydets defeated the Western Carolina Catamounts, 79-78, in SoCon basketball action Thursday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Va. WCU (5-12, 0-4 SoCon) had cut the margin to one with two Elijah Pughsley free throws with 36 seconds to go, but Trey Chapman missed the front end of a one and one with nine ticks on the clock. Pughsley rebounded and rushed into the front court, but after a pair of passes, was forced into a desperation three-pointer. Smith blocked the attempt easily, setting off the home team's celebration. In the victory, VMI shot 27 of 57 overall (47.4%) and overcame a 20-point deficit (38-18) in the paint. The Keydets were 13 of 34 from downtown (38.2%), including a combined 7 of 11 by Smith and Eleby, and finished 12 of 16 (75%) from the line. WCU shot 29 of 63 overall (46%) and 11 of 15 from the line (73.3%). The Catamounts were 9 of 20 from three-point range overall (45%), including 6 of 12 (50%) in the second half.
Attendance: 718


Standings......
UTC         4-1 (13-4)
UNCG       4-1 (13-5)
ETSU       3-1 (13-4)
Furman     3-1 (10-7)
Samford    3-2 (12-6)
Citadel      2-4 (9-10)
Wofford     1-3 (6-11)
Mercer      2-3 (8-10)
VMI          1-3 (4-11)
WCU         0-4 (5-12)



Conference RPI Standings (WarrenNolan RPI)
1 - ACC

11 - CAA
12 - Missouri Valley
13 - Sun Belt
14 - Southern

23 - Ohio Valley
24 - Big South
25 - Conference USA
26 - Atlantic Sun



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