ASHEVILLE, N.C. –Trevis Simpson scored a game-high 17 points and the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team closed the game with a 27-6 run as the Spartans downed Appalachian State, 65-55, in a Southern Conference Tournament quarterfinal game on Saturday at US Cellular Center.
UNCG reserve forward / centre and Saint Lucia's Basketball Player of the Year 2011, Aloysius Henry scored six points and added six rebounds in 21 productive minutes. UNCG now advances to the semifinals where they will face either Wofford or Western Carolina, 6 pm Sunday. The Spartans won a tournament game for the third straight season.
Trailing 39-32 at halftime and 49-38 with 12:57 remaining, the Spartans (13-18) stormed back, getting key baskets from nearly the entire roster. Simpson converted a three-point play with 11:19 left to get UNCG within 49-41. Layups by Aloysius and Derrell Armstrong cut the deficit to 49-46, setting the table for UNCG to get its first advantage at 56-53 lead with 5:25 remaining.
Defense was the difference in the second half, as Appalachian State missed its final nine shots from the field. ASU was limited to just 21% shooting in the final 20 minutes. UNCG shot 38 percent from the field, and made 14-of-24 from the line. Aloysius scored his six points on six shots, and added the team's only blocked shot.
Spartans Head Coach Wes Miller was understandably pleased with his charges: "I'm so proud of this team and this group of guys," he said. "They never give in. That doesn’t mean that you are always going but you give yourself a chance when you play that way. They believed in that kind of a mindset all year."
St Lucia has so many talented athletes. Well done Aloysius Henry
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