University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Western Carolina
Men's Basketball Goes to 5-0 For First Time in School History
11.20.2007 | Men's Basketball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are 5-0 for the first time in school history.
Vincent James tied a career-high with 22 points, while K.J. Garland and Reid Augst added 20 points each as the Bulldogs stayed unbeaten on the season with a hard-fought 83-73 road victory over mountain rival Western Carolina Tuesday night.
Garland became the 23rd player in school history to reach 1,000 career points when he hit two free throws in the first half. He now has 1,009 career points and moved in 22nd place on UNC Asheville's all-time career scoring list.
The Bulldogs (5-0) opened the game with a 14-2 run and held off several Catamount (2-3) runs in the second half to pull out their first win at the Ramsey Center since the 2001-02 season.
"This is a great victory on the road for our team," stated UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. "We played great defense for most of the game and when the game was on the line our guys really responded. Western Carolina is a very good team and for us to beat them on the road is a real positive for our program."
Asheville led by 18 at 69-51 with seven minutes left before the Catamounts went on a wild 15-1 run, knocking down five straight three-pointers to narrow the lead to 70-66 with three minutes remaining.
But Augst hit two free throws and a three-point play from James pushed the lead back to 75-66 and Asheville was able to hold on for the win.
Augst's 20 points is a new career-high for the junior forward. He went 6-of-8 from the field and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Garland just missed a triple-double with 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. His nine assists tied a career high.
UNC Asheville is home Saturday afternoon to defending Atlantic Sun champion East Tennessee. Tip-off is 4:30 p.m.
"We have another big challenge Saturday against a great East Tennessee State team," commented Biedenbach.
NOTES - This was UNC Asheville's first win at the Ramsey Center since the 2001-02 season...Garland has 355 career assists and needs just four to pass Andre Smith (358) and move into fourth place on the school's career list...the Bulldogs shot 55 percent from the field (26-of-47) from has shot better than 50 percent in four of the first five games...Asheville has won nine of its last 10 games dating back to last season...the Bulldogs blocked six more shots and now have 54 blocks in five games, compared to just two for its opponents...7-7 center Kenny George scored four points in the game but blocked four shots and grabbed eight rebounds...George has 31 blocks on the season.
