ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville men's basketball team is off to its best start in 23 years. The Bulldogs will try to continue that start and shock the nation when it travels to top-ranked North Carolina Wednesday night at the Smith Center. The Bulldogs are 11-3 on the season after a dramatic 61-58 win at South Carolina Saturday night. Asheville trailed by seven with three minutes left but scored the final 10 points of the game to get the road win. The Bulldogs will try and take things up a notch when they face the top-ranked Tar Heels. UNC is a perfect 15-0 on the season after a thrilling 90-88 overtime win over Clemson Sunday night. Wednesday's game will be televised nationally on ESPNU and an audio broadcast of the game can be heard on www.uncabulldogs.com.
UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach was very proud of his Bulldog team for coming back to win on Saturday. Asheville struggled the whole night with its shooting but still found a way to win late in the game on the road.
“I'm really proud of our guys for grinding it out and picking up a great road victory over a very good South Carolina team,” declared Biedenbach. “We didn't play at our best but hung in there and got the job done. That's twice we've been behind late in the game in the past few weeks and found a way to win.”
The Bulldogs don't have much time to enjoy the victory over the Gamecocks as Asheville prepares to take on the top-ranked Tar Heels.
“It goes without saying that North Carolina is very, very good,” stated Biedenbach. “They have amazing talent and play at an incredible pace. To be undefeated at this point of the season with the schedule they play is really saying something. They're also very well-coached by Roy Williams.
“However, we're looking forward to playing the game,” added Biedenbach. “Our guys are motivated and excited about playing the top-ranked team in the country. We're going to have to be at our absolute best to have a chance at staying in the game but we're going to give it our best shot.”
UNC Asheville is being in scoring by senior guards Bryan Smithson and K.J. Garland. Smithson is averaging 16.4 points per game, while Garland is averaging 16 points per outing. Junior center Kenny George is averaging close to a double-double with a 12.8 scoring average and 9.3 rebounding mark. He has posted double-doubles in two of the last three games. George leads the nation in blocked shots with 65 and is 20th nationally in field goal percentage at 70.2 percent.
The Bulldogs open Big South Conference play on Saturday at home against Liberty starting at 4:30 p.m.
NOTES ? This will be the fourth time UNC Asheville has played the top-ranked team in the country...the Bulldogs are ranked 22nd in this week's College Insider Mid-Major Poll...Asheville has five players averaging in double figures in scoring...the Bulldogs next win will equal their win total from last year as Asheville went 12-19 in 2006-07...the Dogs have won 15 of their last 19 games dating back to last season.
