Men's Basketball Hosts Winthrop Saturday Afternoon

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's basketball team team is home Saturday for a Big South Conference first-place showdown with defending league champion Winthrop starting at 4:30 p.m. The game can be heard on WISE Radio (1310-AM) and can be seen via video-streaming for a small fee at www.bigsouthsports.com. Saturday's game at Justice Center is a sell-out.

The Bulldogs (17-4, 6-0 BSC) are off to the best start ever after 21 games. Asheville is 6-0 in league play for the first time in 10 years. However, the Eagles (14-7, 5-1 BSC) are playing some of their best basketball of the year. Winthrop owns a 14-7 overall record and won five straight Big South Conference games since a 62-61 loss at High Point to open league play on Jan. 12. They have won their last four games by an average margin of 25 points per game. Senior guard Michael Jenkins leads the Winthrop attack with a 14.2 scoring average. He has knocked down 49 treys. Taj McCullough is averaging 12.6 points per game.

Asheville picked up two important road victories this past weekend. The Bulldogs downed Charleston Southern Saturday night, 86-73 and slipped past Coastal Carolina Monday night, 56-52.

“We got the job done last weekend,” commented UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. “We didn't play perfect in either game but played well enough to win. What I liked the most is that when the game was on the line we were able to make plays both on offense and defense. Both Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina are difficult places to win at, and I'm delighted that we were able to escape from both places with a victory.”

Biedenbach is looking forward to Saturday's game but knows the Bulldogs have to be at their absolute best to have a chance at winning.

“Winthrop is once again a very good team,” pointed out Biedenbach. “They have posted some great non-conference victories and it looks like they're playing exceptional basketball right now. As always, Winthrop plays great defense. They do a super job on the boards and just don't beat themselves.

“We're going to have play extremely well and get contributions from everybody to have a chance at winning on Saturday,” added Biedenbach. “Our guys are going to be ready to play but we'll have to be at our best against an excellent Winthrop team.”

The Bulldogs have four players scoring in double figures this year. Senior guard Bryan Smithson continues to top the Dogs with a 17.8 average. K.J. Garland is next with a 14.2 average. He has 449 career assists and needs just 12 to become the school's all-time leader in that category and pass George Gilbert (460). Junior center Kenny George continues to have a great season as he's averaging 13.1 points and a team-leading 7.9 rebounds per game. The Chicago native tops the nation in field goal shooting at 70.8 percent and is third nationally in blocked shots with a 4.4 mark. He blocked six shots and scored 15 points at Coastal Carolina on Monday. Senior forward Vincent James is averaging 11.0 points per game and enjoyed the first double-double of his career at Charleston Southern Saturday night with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

NOTES ? UNC Asheville has won 21 of its last 26 games dating back to last season...the Bulldogs are 11-1 at home and won eight straight home games...Asheville has shot at or better than 50 percent in 14 games this season and are fourth nationally in field goal percentage at 50.5 percent...Asheville is also fourth nationally in blocked shots at 7.5 per game and 13^th nationally in assists at 18.0.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Men's Basketball Hosts Winthrop Saturday Afternoon

Related News

Players Mentioned

K.J. Garland

Kenny George

Vincent James

Bryan Smithson

Related Videos