University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Basketball Has Home Opener Wednesday Night
11.18.2014 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team plays its home opener Wednesday night when the Bulldogs welcome Johnson & Wales to Kimmel starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at uncabulldogs.com/tickets.
Wednesday's contest can be viewed for free on the Big South Network at uncabulldogs.com under the multimedia tag. Fans can also listen to the game locally on WWNC Radio (570-AM) with the pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m.
Asheville opened the season last weekend on the road with two games and earned a split. The Bulldogs lost a close 80-69 decision at Wake Forest Friday night and then held on for a win at East Carolina, 81-77 Sunday afternoon. Andrew Rowsey led the Blue & White with 26 points against the Demon Deacons and added 28 points at ECU.
Freshman forward Kem Ubaru also played well for the Bulldogs. He scored 10 points on Friday and then must missed a double-double on Sunday with 17 points and nine rebounds.
“We played some good basketball over the weekend,” stated second-year coach Nick McDevitt. “There's still a lot of work to do but I was really proud of our guys at East Carolina. We built a lead and was able to hold them (East Carolina) off to pick up a big road victory.”
Asheville turns its attention to a Johnson & Wales team that is 4-1 on the season under veteran coach Jim Casciano. They knocked off Montreat last week, 67-62. The Wildcats have five players averaging in double figures, led by junior forward Rickey Porter with a 17.5 scoring average.
“We better be ready to go Wednesday night,” stated McDevitt. “Johnson & Wales is a well-coached team that's found success in the first part of the season. They're scoring a lot of points and earned a good win over Montreat last week. We'll need to play well.”
Asheville goes back on the road after Wednesday's contest as the Bulldogs play their next two games in enemy territory. The Dogs journey to ETSU on Saturday night at 7 p.m., followed by a contest at South Carolina next Wednesday (Nov. 26) evening. Asheville's next home game is with Charlotte on Sunday, Nov. 30 at the new time of 3 p.m. in a game that will be regionally televised by the American Sports Network (MY-40 in the Asheville area).
BULLDOG NOTES
UNC Asheville is 36-8 all-time at Kimmel Arena. The Bulldogs were 11-2 here last season and did not trail at halftime of any game.
Asheville's win over East Carolina on Sunday marked the fourth time in the last five years the Bulldogs have earned a win over a team from a power conference. The Dogs other wins have been against Auburn (2010-11), Utah (2011-12), St. John's (2012-13) and East Carolina (2014-15).
Andrew Rowsey has scored in double figures in 30 straight games over the last two seasons. He is 21-of-22 from the free throw line so far this season and is averaging 27 points per game after two contests.
The Bulldogs swept the first Big South Weekly awards this week with Andrew Rowsey being named Big South Player of the Week and freshman Kem Ubaru being named Big South Freshman of the Week.
Asheville forced ACC foe Wake Forest into 24 turnovers on Friday night.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded East Carolina on Sunday, 43-27.
