Men's Basketball Clinches Home Game in Big South Tournament With Win Over Coastal Carolina

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Reid Augst and Matt Dickey scored 21 points each to lead UNC Asheville to a 74-63 Big South Conference victory over Coastal Carolina Saturday evening at Justice Center.

The victory clinched a quarterfinal home game for the Bulldogs (14-14, 10-7 BSC) in the upcoming Big South Conference Tournament. UNC Asheville will be either the third or fourth seed in the tournament that begins with quarterfinal games on March 3.

The Chanticleers (11-17, 5-11 BSC) were led by the sensational play of forward Joseph Harris with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

John Williams added 18 points for the Bulldogs. He blocked a career-high seven shots. J.P. Primm dished out seven assists.

Coastal Carolina had Mario Edwards with 11 points and eight rebounds. Logan Johnson dished out eight assists.

“I'm really proud of our guys for getting another win and getting us a home game in the Big South Conference Tournament,” commented UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. “We made things a little too interesting today but let's give Coastal Carolina and Joseph Harris a lot of credit for their comeback.”

The Bulldogs took control of the game in the first half when they went on a 24-0 run, holding the Chanticleers scoreless for more than nine minutes, to build a 33-11 lead. Harris scored at the 12:34 mark to give CCU an 11-9 lead before Asheville scored the next 24 points. The Chanticleers went 0-for-12 from the field, 0-for-2 from the free throw line and committed five turnovers. Dickey had nine points during the run for the Bulldogs. Edwards finally ended the drought by hitting a three-pointer at the 3:13 mark to make the score 33-14.

Harris scored six points in the final two minutes of the half to bring the Chanticleers within 36-23 at halftime.

The Bulldogs started strong in the second half and out-scored the visitors 20-10 in the first eight minutes to build a 56-33 lead on a lay-up from Primm at the 12:38 mark. Dickey was instrumental once again in the run with eight points.

Coastal Carolina would not go away quietly. Using a full-court press and get baskets from Harris, the Chanticleers went on a 15-0 run to get back in the game as they cut the lead to 56-48 at 7:57. Harris scored 11 of the 15 points and his three-point play on a steal got the lead to eight.

The Chants continued to carve into the lead and got to 63-60 on a Steven Sexton three-pointer with 3:40 remaining. Harris had a chance to get CCU closer on the next possession but his lay-up just rimmed out.

Asheville put the game away with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes. Augst began the run with a jumper to pad the lead to 65-60 and his three-point play made it 70-60. Dickey finished the run with a dunk at 1:06 to make it 72-60.

The Bulldogs finish the regular season at Presbyterian next Saturday night. Coastal Carolina plays at Charleston Southern Thursday night at 7 p.m.

NOTES - UNC Asheville finished the regular-season 10-3 at home as the Bulldogs have won 27 of their last 33 home games...the Bulldogs are at .500 (14-14) for the first time since early December when they were 3-3...Reid Augst moved into 22nd place on the career scoring list at Asheville as he now has 1,077 points, one more than Guy Batsel (1,076)...the Bulldogs have won five of their last six games.

Men's Basketball Clinches Home Game in Big South Tournament With Win Over Coastal Carolina

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Players Mentioned

Reid Augst

Matt Dickey

J.P. Primm

John Williams

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Men's Basketball Clinches Home Game in Big South Tournament With Win Over Coastal Carolina

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Reid Augst

Matt Dickey

J.P. Primm

John Williams

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