University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Bulldogs Win Third Straight With 68-59 Victory over Gardner-Webb
01.15.2011 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Matt Dickey scored 20 points, while John Williams added 13 points as UNC Asheville won its third straight game with a hard-fought 68-59 Big South Conference victory over Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (9-8, 4-3 BSC) led most of the way but could never put away the Runnin' Bulldogs who battled from start to finish.
Williams became the 25th player at UNC Asheville to score 1,000 career points when he hit two free throws late in the first half. He also collected seven rebounds and now has 591 rebounds, moving him into 10th place on the school's all-time list. The senior forward is the third player in Big South Conference history to have more than 1000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocked shots. He now has 1,007 points, 591 rebounds and 222 blocked shots.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-13, 1-6 BSC) were led by Luke Engelken with 13 points. Freshman guard Luke Davis added 12 points, while center Mike Byron chipped in 11 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.
J.P. Primm added nine points for the Bulldogs and also had a season-high nine assists. Williams was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and blocked three shots.
Davis scored on a lay-up at the one-minute mark to cut an Asheville lead to 60-56. The Bulldogs got two free throws from Primm to push the lead to 62-56. Gardner-Webb tried to make it a one possession game with a three-pointer on its next possession but missed three long treys. One was blocked by Dickey. Primm got the rebound on the last miss and was fouled. He sank both free throws to give Asheville a 64-56 lead and seal the Bulldogs first home conference win of the year.
"We battled and it's a good thing we did because Gardner-Webb gave us all they wanted," stated Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. "It wasn't pretty but we got some key stops at the right time, made some free throws and got the job done. Give Gardner-Webb a lot of credit. They came in a little short-handed and gave us fits from start to finish."
Asheville shot better than 50 percent (24-of-43) from the field for the third straight game as it finished at 56 percent. The Bulldogs' defense limited the Runnin' Bulldogs to just 34 percent shooting (22-of-65) from the field. Asheville out-scored the visitors 43-25 in the paint.
The Bulldogs made a late run in the first half to take a 32-25 halftime lead. Asheville scored the final seven points to break a 25-25 tie to surge to the lead. Williams started the run with two free throws that gave him his 1,000th career point. Dickey ended the run as he scored on a three-point play.
Asheville shot 54 percent (12-of-22) from the field in the opening half but hurt itself with nine turnovers. Gardner-Webb shot 29 percent from the field as it went 9-of-31. They also had nine turnovers.
UNC Asheville continues its three-game homestand this Thursday night when the Bulldogs host Big South-leading Coastal Carolina at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m. Gardner-Webb entertains Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.
