ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's basketball team hopes to win its 10th game of the season Monday afternoon when the Bulldogs host Montreat College at Justice Center starting at 4:30 p.m.
Asheville is coming off a dramatic 101-90 overtime victory over Buffalo Saturday afternoon at Justice Center. The Bulldogs trailed by 14 points in the second half before forcing overtime and getting the win.
Montreat is 5-7 on the year and fell at William & Mary on Dec. 22, 87-52.
Asheville is 9-3 on the season and off to its best start since the 1983-84 season. The Bulldogs go for their 10th win of the year on Monday. However, UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach expects a very tough game from Bill Robinson's Montreat Cavaliers.
“Montreat is a well-coached team, and we know that they always play us tough and Monday will be no different,” stated Biedenbach. “Bill Robinson is a very good coach who gets the most out of his team.
“Buffalo was a great win but we need to focus our attention to Montreat,” added Bidenbach. “Montreat has always played us tough.”
The Bulldogs won last year's game, 87-72. However, the previous year Montreat knocked off Asheville, 68-65 on a last-second three-pointer in exhibition play. Asheville is 13-1 vs. Montreat in regular-season play and has won the last four meetings between the teams in regular-season games.
Bryan Smithson scored 23 points on Saturday to lead the comeback against Buffalo. He leads Asheville in scoring with a 17.9 average. K.J. Garland is next at 16.7 and has a team-leading 71 assists. Garland earned his 400th career assist against Buffalo on Saturday. Kenny George continues to have a great year off the bench for the Dogs. He has a 12.1 scoring after scoring a career-best 21 points against the Bulls on Saturday. George also leads Asheville in rebounding with a 9.2 average. He leads the nation in blocked shots with 58. Vincent James has an 11.5 scoring average, while Reid Augst is averaging 11.0 points per game.
Montreat has four players averaging in double figures. Senior guards Thomas Nicholson and Aaron Collazo lead the Cavalier attack as both are averaging 14 points per game. Senior forward Kinard Bennett is averaging 12.5 points per game, while junior forward Matthew Njoku is scoring at 11.6 points per outing.
The Bulldogs play at South Carolina on Jan. 5 before playing at UNC-Chapel Hill on Jan. 9.
