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They didn't win, of course, although they were down only six at one point during the second half.

Led by Stephen Curry's 29 points, Davidson pulled away for an expected 75-54 win.

But the game was a winner for UNCG, anyway, thanks to a big-time college basketball environment in the Greensboro Coliseum ...

... fueled by attendance of more than 11,000.

Most, but not all, of the upper level was curtained off.

Meaning the lower level was packed.

There were plenty of Davidson fans, and other spectators, like myself, without a strong rooting interest but drawn by the chance to see a great player in person. Curry is one of the nation's best. He had an average night by his standards, but it was more than enough to put the Spartans away down the stretch.

Credit for the turnout, though, goes to UNCG, which heavily promoted the game, held rallies beforehand, ran buses from campus, brought in a funny halftime act and really made an event of it.

Chancellor Linda Brady was in the thick of things, hanging out with students behind the Davidson basket early in the game. The pep band was right, the dance team was eye-catching, the cheerleaders were properly peppy.

All in all, the move to the coliseum was a huge success ... tonight.

We'll have to wait 'til next season to see if the Spartans can keep the momentum going. It will be a challenging assignment, to say the least, when the opponent lacks the star power of Davidson. But, then, bring in Carolina or Duke, and the house might be full, up and down.

Now, if the Spartans can just make a game of it from start to finish.