UNC Asheville Men's Basketball Heads to Radford Wednesday Night

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's basketball team hopes to end a three-game losing streak Wednesday night when the Bulldogs travel to Radford for a key Big South Conference battle at the Dedmon Center starting at 7 p.m. The game can be seen via video-streaming for a small fee at www.bigsouthsports.com or listened to on an audio feed at www.uncabulldogs.com

UNC Asheville (18-7, 7-3 BSC) fell at home to VMI Saturday night, 97-75. The loss broke a nine-game winning streak at Justice Center and was the Bulldogs first league defeat at home.

“We played hard against VMI but didn't play good enough defense,” commented UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. “We've got to get back to playing better defense if we want to turn things around.”

The Bulldogs knocked off Radford at Justice Center on Jan. 23, 82-63. However, Asheville led by seven midway through the second half before a late surge carried the Bulldogs to the victory. The Highlanders (8-17, 3-7 BSC) have played much better in the past month and won three of their last six games, including wins over Liberty and VMI. Kenny Thomas and Martell McDuffy lead the Radford attack as both guards are averaging 15 points per game.

“I was impressed with the way Radford played us when they played us at home and they have improved a great deal since that game,” said Biedenbach. “Brad Greenberg (Radford's first year head coach) is an excellent coach and he has team playing well. They've won some close games recently and even in the games they've lost they've played well and had a chance to win.”

The Bulldogs are really struggling on the defensive end in their three losses. Asheville has given up an average of 86 points in those games. Those opponents have shot at or better than 50 percent from the field in the losses.

Asheville also wants to a better job rebounding. The Bulldogs have been up-and-down in their rebounding all year and enter Wednesday's game having been out-rebounded in four of their last five games. VMI won the rebounding battle 44-35 on Saturday night.

Asheville has five different players averaging in double figures. Bryan Smithson is at 16.6 points per game. K.J. Garland has 14.0 scoring average. Kenny George comes in at 12.2 points per game. Vincent James is averaging 10.8 points per game, while Reid Augst averages 10.1 points.

NOTES ? Kenny George needs three blocked shots to set a single-season school record as he has 82 entering the Radford game...the Bulldogs have shot below 44 percent from the field in the last three games...Reid Augst is averaging 14.3 points per game in the last three games...Sean Smith scored a career-high 23 points against VMI...the Bulldogs have set a single-season Big South record for blocked shots with 173...Asheville has won six of its last nine Big South Conference road games dating back to last season.