University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
VMI
VMI Downs UNC Asheville 83-72
12.31.2010 | Men's Basketball
The loss snapped a 13-game homecourt winning streak by the Bulldogs dating back to last season. Asheville (6-7, 1-2 BSC) was led by Jaron Lane and D.J. Cunningham with 15 points each. J.P. Primm and Chris Stephenson added 12 points apiece. Cunningham pulled down 11 rebounds in the game but missed the last 12 minutes of the game with an injury.
The Keydets (8-5, 1-2 BSC) won for the fourth time in their last five trips to Justice Center. Stan Okoye added 10 points and seven rebounds for the visitors.
VMI dominated the backboards throughout the day as it out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 47-39. Six different Keydets grabbed at least five rebounds in the game.
"We had a tough day but you have to give VMI all the credit," stated Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. "Our guys played hard but we were sloppy in the first half and just didn't do the job on the boards throughout the day.
"VMI made shots when it had to and it made stops when it had to," added Biedenbach.
Asheville rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to take a 65-62 lead with 7:40 remaining on a Stephenson lay-up.
But Kenon hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 65-65 on the next possession as the Keydets outscored the Bulldogs 17-6 the rest of the game to earn their first Big South Conference win of the season. Asheville missed six free throws and had just two field goals in the final seven minutes of the game. Kenon had eight points, including two important three-pointers to help seal the win.
Gabriel and Kenon dominated the first half for VMI as they combined for 31 points to help the Keydets take a 45-37 halftime. Asheville struggled with a season-high 14 turnovers in the opening half that led to 11 Keydet points.
The Bulldogs struggled with their shooting all day long. Asheville shot just 39 percent (26-of-67) from the field, 62 percent (15-of-24) from the free throw line and 26 percent (5-of-19) from beyond the arc.
Asheville led 34-27 with six minutes to go in the opening half before VMI outscored the Bulldogs 18-3 over the final six minutes of the half to grab the lead. Kenon and Gabriel combined for 14 points in the final five minutes.
UNC Asheville stays at home and will Big South foe Liberty Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. VMI travels to Gardner-Webb for a BSC contest starting at 3 p.m.
