GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Justin Neely scored 23 points as UNC Greensboro rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat The Citadel 69-66 in overtime Thursday night at Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans, who trailed 33-19 at halftime, outscored the Bulldogs 43-29 in the second half to force the extra period. Braxton Williams led The Citadel with 25 points. The Bulldogs shot 11 for 32 from 3-point range but were hampered by 12 turnovers and just three assists. UNC Greensboro improved to 7-11. The Citadel fell to 4-14. Attendance was 1,459.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering reversal of fortune, Justin Neely scored 23 points and UNC Greensboro mounted a furious second-half comeback to force overtime and ultimately edge The Citadel 69-66 in a Southern Conference men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half and were down 14 at halftime, outscored the Bulldogs 43-29 after the break before securing the victory in the extra period. The most critical phase of the game was unquestionably UNC Greensboro’s second-half surge, which transformed a contest that appeared to be slipping away into a dramatic fight to the finish. After a dismal first half where they managed only 19 points on 28% shooting, the Spartans emerged from the locker room with renewed aggression. They attacked the basket relentlessly, drawing fouls and converting second-chance opportunities, while simultaneously tightening a defense that had allowed The Citadel to shoot freely from the perimeter early on. This concerted effort slowly eroded The Citadel’s once-comfortable lead. A key sequence came midway through the second half when the Spartans used a 9-2 run, fueled by inside scores from Valentino Pinedo and Lilian Marville, to cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the opening minutes. The momentum had decisively shifted. The Citadel, which had executed efficiently in building its lead, began to struggle against the heightened Spartan pressure, committing eight of its 12 turnovers after halftime. Neely, a 6-foot-6 guard from Miami Beach, Florida, was the catalyst for the comeback, scoring 15 of his points after halftime. He consistently broke down the Bulldog defense off the dribble, getting to the free-throw line 10 times and adding three assists. His backcourt mate, Lilian Marville of Orleans, France, provided a crucial spark with all 15 of his points coming in the second half and overtime. The Citadel was led by a stellar performance from Braxton Williams, who poured in 25 points on 9-of-21 shooting, including five three-pointers. Carter Kingsbury added 15 points and a game-high six assists for the Bulldogs. Williams was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 17 points as The Citadel built a 33-19 lead by capitalizing on Spartan mistakes and hitting timely outside shots. Despite the Bulldogs’ early dominance, their offense stagnated against UNC Greensboro’s adjusted defense in the second period. They shot just 11-of-32 from three-point range for the game and were hampered by a season-low three total assists, a testament to the Spartans’ improved ball pressure and communication. The game see-sawed in the final minutes of regulation. With under a minute to play and UNC Greensboro clinging to a two-point lead, The Citadel forced a turnover and had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a contested three-point attempt by Kingsbury missed. Neely secured the defensive rebound and was fouled, sinking two free throws to push the Spartan lead to four. Williams answered with a deep three-pointer for The Citadel with 4.4 seconds left to cut the lead to one. After Neely made one of two free throws, The Citadel’s Eze Wali secured the defensive rebound and called timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. The ensuing full-court inbounds pass led to a desperation heave that missed, sending the game to overtime tied at 62. In the extra period, UNC Greensboro’s defense and rebounding proved decisive. The Spartans scored the first five points, including a critical three-pointer from Donald Whitehead. The Citadel managed only four points in overtime, missing all five of its three-point attempts, as the Spartans blocked two shots and controlled the glass. UNC Greensboro finished with significant advantages in rebounds (45-34), assists (7-3), steals (7-3), and blocks (6-2). The Spartans also attempted 19 free throws to The Citadel’s 11, though they made only nine. Valentino Pinedo contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks for UNC Greensboro, while Christian Moore scored 13 for The Citadel. The victory improved UNC Greensboro’s record to 7-11 overall. The Citadel fell to 4-14. The Spartans host Mercer on Saturday, while The Citadel travels to face Virginia Military Institute.

Preview: Citadel Bulldogs at UNC Greensboro Spartans GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Two Southern Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when The Citadel Bulldogs visit the UNC Greensboro Spartans at Greensboro Coliseum. The Bulldogs (4-13) arrive after snapping a six-game losing streak with a dramatic 79-77 overtime victory over Western Carolina on Jan. 10. The Spartans (6-11) look to rebound from back-to-back road losses at Wofford and East Tennessee State, where they fell by an average of 19 points. Citadel’s recent success hinged on strong performances from Carter Kingsbury and Braxton Williams. Kingsbury scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win, continuing a stretch where he has averaged 14.3 points over his last seven games. Williams added 21 points and five rebounds. UNC Greensboro will counter with guard KJ Younger, who has been a consistent scorer in conference play. Younger is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games, including a 24-point effort in a win over Chattanooga on New Year’s Day. While both teams have struggled for consistency this season, their first matchup of the campaign could hinge on defense. The Bulldogs allow 78.2 points per game, while the Spartans surrender 77.1. Citadel’s win over Western Carolina marked only the third time this season they have held an opponent under 80 points. The Spartans have found more success at home, posting a 5-3 record at Greensboro Coliseum, including conference wins over Samford and Chattanooga earlier this month. The Bulldogs are 1-9 in road and neutral-site games. Thursday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will play again at Citadel on Jan. 31. Following this game, Citadel will visit Virginia Military Institute on Saturday. UNC Greensboro will host Mercer on Saturday.