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.