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GREENSBORO — UNCG was undone by its own generosity Monday night.

Western Carolina had 22 offensive rebounds and converted them into 22 points, beating the Spartans 75-70 in the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Spartans managed 15 offensive rebounds for 14 points, but their minus-eight deficit there was the most crucial game statistic.

"We pride ourselves on that, too," UNCG coach Mike Dement said. "Those games against ACC teams, we learned to box out hard."

Not this time. Offensive rebounds played a big role in the game's key stretch. After UNCG shook off a sluggish first half and rallied to tie the game at 34 early in the second, the Cats struck back.

Up by two, the Cats missed twice, rebounded twice, and finally turned the possession into a layup and free throw by Jake Robinson.

Those points were part of a 10-2 run that put the Cats back in control, 44-37, and they maintained a cushion the rest of the way.

"We have to knuckle down and get better defensively," UNCG's Kyle Randall said. "It's getting more physical now, and some fouls that were maybe called at the beginning of the season aren't being called now."

Randall did everything he could to keep the Spartans close, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the second half and adding nine rebounds and three assists.

UNCG lost its fourth straight and eighth in its last 10 games. Overall, the Spartans dropped to 5-20, their second straight season of 20 losses. They're 10-45 in that stretch.

UNCG is 4-10 in the North Division of the SoCon and 3-10 in the Coliseum. The last record is the one that bothers Dement the most.

"It would help if we took a little more pride in being at home," Dement said. "We have one more chance to do that. It's something we haven't done for two years now."

Things don't let up for the Spartans, who play their next three games on the road (Elon, The Citadel, Davidson) before wrapping up the regular season against Georgia Southern in the Coliseum in two weeks.

Western came in on a downswing. The Cats seemed to have peaked on Dec. 12, when they were 10-1 after winning at Louisville. They were 8-7 since, including three straight losses. Now they're 19-8 overall, 9-6 and in second place in the North Division.

"We're not back to where we were, but I thought we took some steps forward tonight," Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter said.

WESTERN CAROLINA (19-8) — Mutombo 3-10 1-2 8, Gailliard 2-4 0-0 4, Gordon 3-6 5-7 11, Giles 7-16 3-4 20, Waginger 3-8 1-4 8, Russell 3-6 3-5 9, Cole 1-1 0-0 3, Williams 2-8 0-2 4, Gallagher 0-1 0-0 0, Robinson 3-10 1-1 8. Totals 27-70 14-25 75.

UNCG (5-20) — Stywall 4-12 4-7 12, Brown 2-5 1-2 5, Koivisto 5-12 0-0 13, Randall 7-18 5-5 20, Toney 4-6 0-0 11, Sellers 0-0 0-2 0, VanDussen 0-1 0-0 0, Evans 2-3 1-2 5, Cole 2-3 0-0 4, Jackson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 11-18 70.

Halftime—Western Carolina 29-23.
3-point goals—Western Carolina 7-21 (Giles 3-6, Cole 1-1, Mutombo 1-3, Robinson 1-5, Waginger 1-6), UNCG 7-17 (Toney 3-5, Koivisto 3-8, Randall 1-3, Evans 0-1).
Fouled out—None.
Rebounds—Western Carolina 45 (Mutombo 10), UNCG 43 (Randall, Stywall 9).
Assists—Western Carolina 15 (Waginger 5), UNCG 15 (Koivisto 4).
Total fouls—Western Carolina 19, UNCG 24.
A—3,194.