The UNC Greensboro Spartans delivered a dominating performance, defeating the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 92-71. Clinton Efinda led the charge with 21 points and 5 rebounds, while KJ Younger matched Efinda's 21 points and added 5 rebounds of his own. The Spartans' 92 points marked their highest total in 5 games, with 47 of those points coming in the first half. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets, meanwhile, struggled to keep pace, scoring just 20 points in the first half.
Clinton Efinda's 21 Points Marked His 4th 20-Point Game of the Season
The UNC Greensboro Spartans took control from the opening tip, building a 47-20 lead by halftime. The Spartans' 27-point halftime advantage was their largest of the season, and they maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets made a push in the second half, scoring 51 points, but it was too little, too late. Linus Holmstrom led the Keydets with 23 points, while TJ Johnson added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Spartans' 21-point margin of victory exceeded the pre-game prediction by 11.4 points, with the CHD Scout predicting an 82-72 UNC Greensboro win. The Spartans' 45 second-half points marked their lowest total in 3 games, but it was still enough to secure the win.
Clinton Efinda and KJ Younger paced the UNC Greensboro Spartans, each scoring 21 points. Efinda added 5 rebounds, while Younger matched that total. Justin Neely chipped in with 16 points and 9 rebounds, helping the Spartans dominate the glass. For the Virginia Military Institute Keydets, Linus Holmstrom scored 23 points, while TJ Johnson added 20 points and 10 rebounds. Mario Tatum Jr. contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Spartans' balanced attack. The Spartans' 3 top performers combined for 58 points, accounting for 63% of their team's total.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The UNC Greensboro Spartans shot 51.4% from the field, including 35.7% from 3-point range. They outrebounded the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 43-35, with Justin Neely's 9 rebounds leading the way. The Keydets, meanwhile, shot 40.6% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range. Linus Holmstrom's 23 points marked his 5th 20-point game of the season, while TJ Johnson's 10 rebounds marked his 3rd double-digit rebounding effort in 5 games. The Spartans' 92 points marked their highest total since scoring 95 points against a non-conference opponent 6 games ago.
The CHD Scout predicted a 9.6-point UNC Greensboro victory, and while the actual margin was 11.4 points higher, the model was still correct in predicting a Spartans win. The predicted score was 82-72, but the Spartans' 92 points and the Keydets' 71 points made for a more lopsided final score. The model correctly identified the Spartans as the stronger team, but underestimated their scoring potential. The Spartans' 21-point margin of victory marked their largest in 7 games, dating back to a 25-point win over a non-conference opponent.
The win marked a Quad 4 victory for the UNC Greensboro Spartans, who improved to 11-15 on the season. The loss was also a Quad 4 defeat for the Virginia Military Institute Keydets, who fell to 6-20. The Spartans' NET ranking of 304 will likely remain relatively stable, while the Keydets' NET ranking of 358 may drop slightly. The Spartans' quad record now stands at 4-10 in Quad 4 games, while the Keydets are 2-15 in such games. The Spartans' victory marked their 3rd win in 5 games, and they want to build on this momentum in their next outing.
The UNC Greensboro Spartans want to build on this momentum when they face their next opponent on February 15. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from this loss when they take on their next foe on February 14. Both teams want to improve their tournament resumes, and these upcoming games matters in determining their postseason fate. The Spartans' next game will be their 26th of the season, while the Keydets will be playing their 27th game.