GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Brian Taylor scored 25 points to lead East Tennessee State to an 87-75 men’s basketball victory over UNC Greensboro on Saturday at Greensboro Coliseum. The Buccaneers improved to 21-8 overall after leading 39-36 at halftime and pulling away in the second half before an announced crowd of 1,498. The Spartans fell to 12-17. Taylor, a 6-foot-4 guard from St. Louis, added two rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. Cam Morris added 15 points for East Tennessee State. UNC Greensboro was led by Justin Neely’s 18 points and KJ Younger’s 20 points. Valentino Pinedo added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Spartans. East Tennessee State shot 50% from the floor, while UNC Greensboro shot 43%. The Buccaneers also held advantages from three-point range and the free-throw line.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Brian Taylor scored 25 points and East Tennessee State used a dominant offensive performance to pull away from UNC Greensboro for an 87-75 victory in Southern Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at Greensboro Coliseum. The Buccaneers, who led by three at halftime, shot a blistering 60% from the field and scored 48 second-half points to secure their fifth win in six games and improve to 21-8 overall. The Spartans fell to 12-17. The most critical stretch of the game came early in the second half, when East Tennessee State transformed a narrow 39-36 halftime lead into a comfortable double-digit advantage. The Buccaneers opened the period on a 13-4 run, fueled by Taylor’s 3-pointer and a series of efficient interior baskets. That surge established a 52-40 lead with just over 16 minutes remaining, and UNC Greensboro never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. East Tennessee State’s offense operated with remarkable efficiency throughout, scoring 87 points on just 68 possessions for an offensive rating of 128.6. The Buccaneers made 33 of 55 field goal attempts, including 9 of 20 from 3-point range, and added 12 of 14 from the free-throw line. They also punished the Spartans’ mistakes, scoring 18 points off 13 UNC Greensboro turnovers. Taylor, a 6-foot-4 guard from St. Louis, led all scorers. His 25 points came on 10-of-15 shooting, and he added two rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. He was supported by a balanced attack: Cam Morris scored 15 points, Jaylen Smith added 12 points and four assists, and Isaiah Sutherland contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. UNC Greensboro was led by KJ Younger’s 20 points. Justin Neely scored 18 points and Valentino Pinedo recorded a near double-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Noah Norgaard added 13 points. The Spartans shot a respectable 51.9% from the field but were hampered by their 13 turnovers and an inability to slow the Buccaneers’ attack. The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring eight lead changes. UNC Greensboro started quickly, with Younger hitting two early 3-pointers to help build an 11-8 lead. The Spartans led by as many as five points before East Tennessee State found its rhythm. The Buccaneers used a 10-2 run, capped by a Sutherland 3-pointer, to take a 25-19 lead. The Spartans responded, closing the half on a 7-2 spurt to trim the deficit to 39-36 at the break. Any momentum for the home team was quickly extinguished after halftime by East Tennessee State’s decisive run. The Buccaneers consistently answered any Spartan push with a key basket, often from Taylor or Morris in the paint, where they held a 44-38 scoring advantage. The victory completed a season sweep for East Tennessee State, which defeated UNC Greensboro 86-60 on Jan. 10. The Buccaneers have now won 10 of their last 12 conference games. A crowd of 1,498 attended the game at Greensboro Coliseum. East Tennessee State, which entered the game with a 66% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, will next host Wofford on Wednesday. UNC Greensboro travels to face Chattanooga on Thursday.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging East Tennessee State team visits a struggling UNC Greensboro squad in a Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Greensboro Coliseum. The Buccaneers (20-8) enter on a strong run, having won seven of their last eight games, including a 78-69 road victory at Furman on Wednesday. Milton Matthews led the way in that win, scoring 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench. The guard has provided key scoring sparks recently, averaging 10.1 points over his last seven contests. ETSU dominated the first meeting this season, routing the Spartans 86-60 in Johnson City on Jan. 10. UNC Greensboro (12-16) looks to halt a two-game skid and reverse that lopsided result. The Spartans are coming off a 91-77 loss at Western Carolina on Wednesday, despite a career-high 35 points from Justin Neely. The guard has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 24.1 points over his last eight games. He posted 24 points and 13 rebounds in a win at Furman on Feb. 8, highlighting his all-around capability. While the Spartans have shown flashes, winning three of five before the recent losses, consistency has been an issue. They will need a major defensive improvement after allowing ETSU to shoot 54% in the January meeting. The Buccaneers, near the top of the conference standings, aim to continue their push for postseason positioning. The Spartans, anchored by Neely’s offensive outbursts, seek a season-defining upset on their home floor to build momentum before the conference tournament. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.