University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Gardner-Webb in Regular-Season Finale
02.26.2010 | Men's Basketball
Asheville (13-15, 10-7 BSC) needs a win against the Runnin' Bulldogs to secure a home game in the quarterfinals of the upcoming Big South Conference Tournament. If the Bulldogs are victorious on Saturday, they will be the fourth-seed in next week's tournament and host the fifth seed Tuesday night at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m. If Asheville loses, then the Bulldogs could be the fifth seed and on the road on Tuesday.
The game is even more important for Gardner-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs are simply trying to make the tournament. Only the top eight teams get to be in the Big South Tournament and right now Gardner-Webb is tied for the eighth spot with VMI. The Runnin' Bulldogs need a victory over Asheville and a VMI loss at Coastal Carolina on Saturday to make the tourney.
The teams met way back on Dec. 4 in the first league game of the season at Gardner-Webb. The Bulldogs edged the Runnin' Bulldogs that night 58-56 when Chris Stephenson tapped in a missed shot with 1.5 seconds left.
Asheville is coming off a heart-breaking 68-65 overtime loss at Winthrop Tuesday night. The Bulldogs led by six late in regulation and had a chance to win the game in overtime but fell in the final seconds.
"We played very hard on Tuesday night and were a play away from winning," stated Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. "However, we turned it over too much and gave up too many offensive rebounds. Tuesday's game was a tough one to lose, but we need to put it behind and be ready to go on Saturday."
Gardner-Webb (8-20, 5-12 BSC) has lost a lot of close games this season. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs won a thriller on Tuesday night when they edged Presbyterian College in overtime, 77-76 as senior Grayson Flittner hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining.
"Gardner-Webb has a good team but has been snake-bit in some games this season," admitted Biedenbach. "We were fortunate to win down there earlier this year. We will get there best shot on Saturday, and we'd better be ready to play from the start."
A win on Saturday would also make Biedenbach the all-time winningest coach in Big South Conference history. He has 194 wins at Asheville and is tied with former Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall.
NOTES - Asheville has won seven straight home games...the Bulldogs plan to honor senior Sean Smith prior to the game as he'll play his last regular-season home game...Smith is second all-time in three-pointers made at Asheville with 187...sophomore guard J.P. Primm is leading the Big South in conference games in assists (5.9) and steals (2.4)...John Williams had three blocked shots on Tuesday and now has 200 for his career placing him fifth all-time in the Big South in that category...the Bulldogs are 10-3 since Jan. 9.
