JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 10, 2026) – Nobody hangs banners or makes trophies for being the last unbeaten team or for being in first place four games into the conference season because they’re not celebrations. They are statements of intent.
ETSU has stated its intent loud and clear two weeks into SoCon play.
The ETSU men’s basketball team blasted UNCG 86-60 on Saturday afternoon, their largest win over UNCG since February 12, 2005, when they beat the Spartans 105-78. Blake Barkley set a new career-high with 24 points, and Brooks Savage collected his 50th win as head coach.
The Buccaneers (12-5, 4-0) opened the game on a 7-0 run in the first 52 seconds and turned the Spartans over on their first four possessions. The Spartans (6-11, 2-2) took the lead of the night on a 16-3 run over the following nine minutes, but Barkley stopped the run with 9:21 to go in the half and a Jaylen Smith three tied the game 51 seconds later. When the Spartans regained the lead, an Allen Strothers three pointer tied the game back up at 22, and Smith picked off a lackadaisical pass and went the length of the floor for a two-handed dunk to put ETSU in front to stay.
The Bucs opened the second half on a 17-2 run over the first 6:13 that featured five points from Barkley and four each from Brian Taylor II, Cam Morris III, and Gabe Sisk to get ETSU ahead 55-36. The Bucs never led by fewer than 16 points after that, and Taylor pushed the lead past 20 for the first time with a layup with 9:33 remaining.
Barkley’s 24 points mark his fourth straight game of 15 or more and his third 20 point game this season. Morris added 13 and led the Bucs with six rebounds while Taylor added 12 with five assists and a career-high five steals. ETSU shot 59.7% from the field and held UNCG to 34% from the floor as well as 25% on 20 three-point attempts. The Spartans’ 60 points tied a season low.
Having cashed in on their early SoCon homestand, the Bucs will return to the road for two weeks beginning Wednesday at Western Carolina. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee.
For more information on ETSU men’s basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.
