University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Bulldogs Reflect on the Mountain Rivalry With 50th edition Set for Saturday
12.15.2016 | Men's Basketball
It's a rivalry that goes back 86 years, but for varying reasons the Mountain Rivalry between UNC Asheville and Western Carolina is just now getting to its 50th edition.
One of the times that there were numerous years between the rivalry game came over a 10-year span leading into the 1986-87 season.
That season with legendary head coach Jerry Green at the helm the Bulldogs were making the jump to NCAA Division I men's basketball.
To former UNC Asheville Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and Hall of Famer Mike Gore that particular Mountain Rivalry game on Dec. 8, 1986, at the then newly opened Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C. announced that the Bulldogs were ready for the highest level of college basketball.
In a game in which nobody really on the the outside expected UNC Asheville to win it was senior guard and Asheville native Van Wilkins that posted 36 points to lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 85-67 win.
"It was a huge win for the program," Gore said.
The Catamounts and Bulldogs have now met every season dating back to 1999-00, and the Mountain Rivalry once again has become something people look forward to in the area each and every year.
As you would expect this particularly means a ton to those involved with the program such as former Bulldog guard Jeremy Harn, who relayed that his favorite memory was forward John Williams being carried off the court after he scored 17 points to help UNC Asheville rally past Western Carolina, 81-78, before a sell-out crowd of 1,121 on New Year's Eve 2008 at the Justice Center.
For current UNC Asheville head coach and former Bulldog guard Nick McDevitt one of his fondest memories of the rivalry is seeing two future professional basketball players in UNC Asheville's Andre Smith and Western Carolina's Kevin Martin battle it out on the hardwood.
Martin would go on to play for 12 years in the NBA, but Smith, the 2003 Big South Conference Tournament MVP, and the Bulldogs would get the better of him for the most part on the hardwood in the Mountain Rivalry during his time with the Catamounts in the early 2000s.
The 50th edition of the Mountain Rivalry between UNC Asheville men's basketball and Western Carolina will be contested at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 17, at Kimmel Arena. Winners of four straight, Asheville basketball is in the midst of its best start since the 2007-08 campaign at 7-3 overall. The surging Bulldogs welcome local rival Western Carolina (3-6) to Kimmel Arena currently 3-0 on the year at home.
As part of the Mountain Rivalry game there will also be a food drive to benefit Manna Food Bank. The special food drive is presented by Ingles and Harrah's Cherokee Casino.
In addition, there will also be a photo booth from TapSnap where those in attendance can take a holiday picture with their family or Santa. Fans can email their photo to themselves, post to social media and get a 4x6 copy.
One of the times that there were numerous years between the rivalry game came over a 10-year span leading into the 1986-87 season.
That season with legendary head coach Jerry Green at the helm the Bulldogs were making the jump to NCAA Division I men's basketball.
To former UNC Asheville Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and Hall of Famer Mike Gore that particular Mountain Rivalry game on Dec. 8, 1986, at the then newly opened Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C. announced that the Bulldogs were ready for the highest level of college basketball.
In a game in which nobody really on the the outside expected UNC Asheville to win it was senior guard and Asheville native Van Wilkins that posted 36 points to lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 85-67 win.
"It was a huge win for the program," Gore said.
The Catamounts and Bulldogs have now met every season dating back to 1999-00, and the Mountain Rivalry once again has become something people look forward to in the area each and every year.
As you would expect this particularly means a ton to those involved with the program such as former Bulldog guard Jeremy Harn, who relayed that his favorite memory was forward John Williams being carried off the court after he scored 17 points to help UNC Asheville rally past Western Carolina, 81-78, before a sell-out crowd of 1,121 on New Year's Eve 2008 at the Justice Center.
For current UNC Asheville head coach and former Bulldog guard Nick McDevitt one of his fondest memories of the rivalry is seeing two future professional basketball players in UNC Asheville's Andre Smith and Western Carolina's Kevin Martin battle it out on the hardwood.
Martin would go on to play for 12 years in the NBA, but Smith, the 2003 Big South Conference Tournament MVP, and the Bulldogs would get the better of him for the most part on the hardwood in the Mountain Rivalry during his time with the Catamounts in the early 2000s.
The 50th edition of the Mountain Rivalry between UNC Asheville men's basketball and Western Carolina will be contested at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 17, at Kimmel Arena. Winners of four straight, Asheville basketball is in the midst of its best start since the 2007-08 campaign at 7-3 overall. The surging Bulldogs welcome local rival Western Carolina (3-6) to Kimmel Arena currently 3-0 on the year at home.
As part of the Mountain Rivalry game there will also be a food drive to benefit Manna Food Bank. The special food drive is presented by Ingles and Harrah's Cherokee Casino.
In addition, there will also be a photo booth from TapSnap where those in attendance can take a holiday picture with their family or Santa. Fans can email their photo to themselves, post to social media and get a 4x6 copy.
Monday, March 18
Monday, March 18
Thursday, March 14
Monday, March 04