Men's Basketball to Play Unbeaten Ohio State on Monday Night

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? The UNC Asheville Bulldogs will end a difficult three-game road trip when the Bulldogs have a rematch with NIT foe Ohio State Monday night at Value City Arena starting at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WISE Radio (1310-AM) and on www.uncabulldogs.com.

UNC Asheville (4-7) fell at Buffalo Saturday night, 71-52. The Bulls shut down the Bulldogs on offense in the second half. Asheville was led by Reid Augst with 12 points. Things will not be any easier with an unbeaten Buckeye (8-0) squad that has beaten Notre Dame and Miami this season. Ohio State is ranked 16^th in the nation and downed Iona Saturday afternoon, 71-53.

“We're going to have get tougher both mentally and physically,” explained UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. “Buffalo was tough on Saturday, and Ohio State is going to be even tougher Monday night.

“We're playing hard but we're a young team,” added Biedenbach. “Our guys have to learn to grind things out on both offense and defense. We have flashes of that at times but you have to do it for 40 minutes.”

Biedenbach is very impressed with Ohio State.

“Thad Matta (Ohio State's head coach) is one of the best coaches in the country,” commented Biedenbach. “They play hard all the time and are very good on defense. I thought they were very good last year when we played them in the NIT. Ohio State looks even better this season.”

The Bulldogs became the first team in Big South history to make the NIT last March and gave a good effort against the Buckeyes before falling 84-66. Augst had a great game against Ohio State with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Ohio State is led by guard Evan Turner with a 16.9 scoring average. Jon Diebler is averaging 11.4 points per game. The Buckeyes are allowing opponents just 52.9 points per game. They beat Samford last month, 59-22.

Augst continues to lead the Bulldogs in scoring with a 14.5 average. He has scored in double figures nine times this season. Sophomore forward John Williams is averaging 11.1 points and six rebounds per game.

NOTES

UNC Asheville is 0-2 vs. Ohio State with the first meeting taking place in the 1993-94 season and the Buckeyes won 93-59...after Monday's game the Bulldogs are off until New Year's Eve when they host Western Carolina at Justice Center...Eddie Biedenbach has 199 career coaching victories with 170 at UNC Asheville...the Bulldogs are 0-6 on the road this year but have played North Carolina, Duke and Tennessee...Asheville has shot below 40 percent from the field in the past two games.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Men's Basketball to Play Unbeaten Ohio State on Monday Night

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