GREENSBORO, N.C. – Another solid defensive performance earned the men's basketball team its fourth straight victory, defeating UNC Greensboro, 58-42, Thursday night at Greensboro Coliseum.
 
Wofford held UNCG to its lowest scoring total and lowest field goal percentage of the season, as the Spartans finished shooting 31.7 percent. Meanwhile, the Terriers registered their best shooting night of the year, hitting 60 percent (21-35) from the field.
 
Junior Spencer Collins led all scorers with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, marking his sixth straight game in double figures. Senior Lee Skinner scored in double figures for the sixth time in his last eight games, posting 12 points along with a team-high six rebounds. Senior Karl Cochran scored 11.
 
Tevon Saddler came into the night averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game for the Spartans (6-16, 2-7 SoCon). The Terriers held him scoreless at 0-for-6 from the floor.
 
"Defending is what this team hangs its hat on night in and night out, and this was another example of it," said Wofford head coach Mike Young, who moved into sole possession of ninth place in Southern Conference history with his 206th career victory. "Holding the other team to low 30s from the field will win you a lot of ball games. I'm proud of our guys and we'll look forward to Mercer on Saturday."
 
The victory moves Wofford to 8-1 in Southern Conference play and into sole possession of first place. Mercer defeated Chattanooga in overtime Thursday night in Macon, moving both of those teams into a tie for second place at 7-2.
 
At 8-1, Wofford holds its best nine-game SoCon record in the program's 18 years in the league. Wofford's 17-5 overall record is its best since 1993-94.
 
Things got off on the wrong foot for UNCG. Tevon Saddler, who entered leading the team with 16.3 points per game, picked up two fouls before a minute of game time had gone by. He was called for a charge, running into Justin Gordon on the first possession, and then called for a defensive foul on Wofford's first possession. It forced him to the bench for most of the half.
 
Still, UNCG found a way to get on top. Gordon put away the game's first bucket, but the Spartans responded with the next 12 points. Third-year sophomore RJ White was a big contributor, hitting two straight inside. He finished with eight points and a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Wofford turned the ball over six times through the opening six minutes before starting to click. Collins hit a long jumper from the right wing that started an 8-0 run. Gordon Cochran and Skinner all followed and the Terrier defense was up to the task, holding UNCG scoreless for six minutes.
 
It was all Wofford the rest of the half. The Terriers put together a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes. A Collins jumper gave Wofford its first lead since 2-0 at the 6:55 mark.
 
The second half of Wofford's 16-4 run followed. It consisted of nine straight for the Terriers that all came from opportunities in or around the paint.
 
At the half, it was a 30-22 lead with the Terriers connecting at 59.1 percent and holding UNCG to just 32.3 percent. Wofford took just four threes and was 12-for-18 inside the arc, while UNCG made just one triple on seven attempts. After turning the ball over six times in the first six minutes, the Terriers had just eight at the break. Collins led all scorers with eight points.
 
UNCG came out with the first four points of the second half and chopped Wofford's lead down to as little as three. A 3-pointer by Marvin Smith made it 34-31.
 
That was as close as it got. Cochran hit a fast break opportunity and Collins nailed a three to push the margin back to eight. A few minutes later, Allen hit a running jumper inside and the Terriers were back in front by 10.
 
UNCG came up empty on six straight possessions, missing three shots and turning the all over to the Terriers three times. Wofford's run continued as Skinner extended the lead to a dozen with 10 minutes to play. He was good for two more off an outlet pass from Allen that gave Wofford its largest lead for the time being, 46-32
 
The Spartans gave one final push, cutting the deficit to nine. White did so at the 6:23 mark and Nicholas Paulos brought it back to single digits for a second time with 4:53 remaining.
 
Wofford put it away. UNCG scored just two points the rest of the game on a last second shot, but by that time the Terriers had rolled off 10 straight to take an 18-point lead.
 
The Terriers host Mercer in a key SoCon battle on Saturday at 7 p.m. inside Benjamin Johnson Arena.
 
Wofford Notes:
- Wofford has held its opponents to 49.5 points and 33.3 percent shooting over the last four games (4-0).
- Jaylen Allen tied a season-high with three assists.
- Wofford hit a season-high in field goal percentage (60.0 pct).
- The Terriers held UNCG to a season-low 42 points and 31.7-percent shooting.
- The Terriers improved to 8-1 in Southern Conference play for the first time, and continues its best overall start of the Division I era (17-5).
- Wofford moved into sole possession of first place in the SoCon.
- The Terriers improved to 22-11 in the all-time series against UNCG.