University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Presbyterian
Bulldogs Roar Past Presbyterian College, 88-55
02.03.2011 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville erupted for 55 first-half points as the Bulldogs rolled to an 88-55 Big South Conference win over visiting Presbyterian College Thursday night at Justice Center.
Asheville (12-10, 7-5 BSC) won for the sixth time in its last eight games. In addition, junior guard J.P. Primm scored his 1,000th career point on a three-pointer in the second half. The 33-point margin tied for the biggest margin of a conference win for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs were led by Matt Dickey and Primm with 15 points each. Jaron Lane contributed 14 points, while John Williams added 11 points. Chris Stephenson and D.J. Cunningham had 10 points each.
The Blue Hose were led by Jake Troyli with 11 points. Ryan Hargrave finished with 10 points.
The Bulldogs sealed the one early. Asheville led 23-4 after just seven minute s of play as the Bulldogs scored both on fast break lay-ups. The home team shot a season-high 67.7 percent (21-of-31) from the field in the opening half as Asheville led 55-20 at halftime. The Bulldogs went 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.
"We shot the ball very well tonight and everything we threw up in the first half seemed to go into the basket," commented Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach. "Where I was most happy was our defensive intensity and our rebounds. We were fortunate that they missed some shots they normally make but we also defended well and did a great job on the boards, as well.
"I was very pleased to get this victory," added Biedenbach. "Presbyterian College is a good team that's had some bad luck with injuries.
Dickey scored 14 of his 15 points in the first half, while Lane added 12 in the opening half.
Meanwhile, the Blue Hose (10-14, 4-8 BSC) were as ice cold from the field as the Bulldogs were red hot from the field. PC shot just 19 percent (5-of-16) from the field.
Asheville controlled the boards 24-12 and out-scored the Blue Hose 22-4 in the paint in the first half.
In the second half, Primm picked up his 1,000th career point when he sank a trey midway through the half. The junior guard now has 1,000 career points and is the third Bulldog to accomplish that feat this season. He joins Matt Dickey and John Williams to get to 1,000 career points. It marks the first time in school history that a Bulldog team had three 1,000-point career scorers on the same team
The Bulldogs finished the game shooting a season-high 61.1 percent (33-of-54) from the field and 50 percent (8-of-16) from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs will be at home again on Saturday afternoon when they host defending Big South Conference champion Winthrop at Justice Center starting at 2 p.m. The Blue Hose will play at Gardner-Webb on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
