ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville men's basketball team puts its modest two-game winning streak on the line Wednesday night when the Bulldogs visit Big South Conference newcomer Gardner-Webb for a 7 p.m. Big South Conference game. The game will be broadcast on WISE Radio (1310-AM) and can be seen via video-streaming for a small fee on The Edge at www.bigsouthsports.com.
UNC Asheville (6-8, 2-1 BSC) earned a Big South Conference win on the road Saturday night at Charleston Southern, 76-65. It was the Bulldogs first road win of the season as senior forward Reid Augst scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Asheville is in the middle of a three-game road trip and face a tough challenge against Gardner-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs have a 5-8 overall record and are 1-2 in the Big South. Gardner-Webb is led by junior guard Grayson Flittner with a 16.5 scoring average. Senior guard Aaron Linn is averaging 14.8 points per game. The Runnin' Bulldogs came close to winning at ACC foe Virginia Tech and #3 Oklahoma earlier this season.
“Gardner-Webb is a good basketball team,” explained Biedenbach. “They've had a tough non-conference schedule but played some of those teams to close games. We know that Gardner-Webb has a good basketball tradition and we're glad they're in the Big South Conference. It should be a tremendous rivalry with both of our schools being so close.”
This will be the first meeting between the schools since the 1984-85 season. UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb were long-time members of the NAIA District 26 and enjoyed an intense rivalry in the 1970's and 1980's.
The Bulldogs continue to be led by senior forward Reid Augst. He leads Asheville in scoring with a 14.6 average and is averaging 22 points in three BSC games. The Richmond native is shooting 67 percent (22-of-33) from the field in league games. John Williams is next at 11.5 points per game. The sophomore forward tops the Dogs in rebounding (5.9) and blocked shots (29). Sophomore center Eric Stubbs has emerged as a scoring threat for the Bulldogs. He has started four times this year and is averaging 10.8 points per game. Stubbs had first career double-double at CSU Saturday night with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
NOTES ? UNC Asheville won its first road game of the season on Saturday at Charleston Southern but has enjoyed success on the road in league play the past two seasons as the Bulldogs are 8-4 in their last 12 league road games dating back to the 2006-07 season...J.P. Primm is second in the Big South in assists with a 5.1 average...UNC Asheville has shot 71 free throws in the last two games.
