Men's Basketball Hosts Radford Wednesday Night at Justice Center

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's basketball team will look to go 4-0 in Big South Conference play Wednesday night when the Bulldogs host Radford at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday's game with the Highlanders will be broadcast on WISE Radio (1310-AM) and can be seen via video-streaming for a small fee at www.bigsouthsports.com. There are some general admission tickets available and can be purchased on-line at www.uncabulldogs.com or call 251-6904.

UNC Asheville (14-4, 3-0) stayed perfect in the early part of the Big South Conference season with a dramatic 90-87 overtime win at VMI Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs trailed for much of the game but got a clutch three-pointer from K.J. Garland with 0.4 seconds left to tie the game at 80-80. Asheville got six points from Bryan Smithson in overtime and Kenny George's go-ahead basket with 11.9 seconds left gave the Bulldogs the win. Sean Smith scored a career-high 17 points in the game.

“Saturday was a great victory for us against a very good VMI team,” stated UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. “We didn't play perfect and took way too many three-pointers (37) but our guys found a way to win a game in a tough environment.

“I think most of our games are going to be like that this year,” added Biedenbach. “The league is very balanced from top-to-bottom, and we have another tough game Wednesday night against Radford.”

The Highlanders are under new leadership this year in Brad Greenburg. Greenburg worked for his brother Seth at Virginia Tech before coming to Radford last spring. The Highlanders are 5-13 overall and 0-3 in league play. RU is being led by junior guard Kenny Thomas. Thomas is averaging 15.5 points per game. He has knocked down 35 treys and is shooting 81 percent from the free throw line. Junior guard Martell McDuffy is averaging 14.4 points per game this season. The Highlanders lost to defending champion Winthrop Saturday afternoon, 77-59.

“Radford has some very talented players and is well-coached by Brad Greenburg,” commented Biedenbach. “They lost by one point at Coastal Carolina and knocked off Gardner-Webb on the road. Radford has played a very tough non-conference schedule and hung in there against some good teams. We're going to need to play well to win.”

Asheville won both meetings with the Highlanders last year. The Bulldogs won at Radford, 77-67 and then rallied past the Highlanders at Justice Center, 78-68.

Bryan Smithson leads Asheville in scoring with an 18.5 average. K.J. Garland is second in scoring with a 14.5 mark. His next assist will put him into second place at UNC Asheville in career assists. He has 430 career assists and is tied with Josh Kohn. Kenny George is averaging 12.4 points per game and tops the Dogs in rebounding at 8.3. Vincent James is averaging 11.3 points per game. He scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds at VMI on Saturday.

NOTES ? The Bulldogs are ranked 19^th in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Poll...Asheville hit 13 treys against VMI on Saturday, the second most in school history...Rashad Gill came off the bench at VMI and posted a career-best eight points...Asheville only had eight turnovers at VMI and posted 14 steals...the Bulldogs shot 44 percent from the field at VMI and that was only the sixth time this year that Asheville has not shot 50 percent or better...the Bulldogs are 10-1 at home this year...Asheville has won 19 of its last 24 games dating back to last season.