University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Bulldogs Runaway with 80-55 Victory Over Gardner-Webb
01.03.2015 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Sam Hughes scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds as UNC Asheville roared past Gardner-Webb 80-55 in Big South Conference action Saturday afternoon at Kimmel Arena .
Senior center Chudier Pal added a career-high 17 points as he went 8-of-9 from the field for the Bulldogs (6-7, 2-0 BSC). Freshman guard Kevin Vannatta chipped in 11 points and seven assists. Sophomore guard David Robertson contributed a career-high nine assists.
Gardner-Webb (9-6, 1-1 BSC) was led by Jarvis Davis' 18 points. Tyrell Nelson and Tyler Strange added 10 points each.
The Bulldogs did a great job on defense throughout the day against a potent GWU attack. The Runnin' Bulldogs shot just 28 percent (17-of-60) from the field and 17 percent (4-of-23) from beyond the arc.
Asheville shot 48 percent (31-of-64) from the field and 33 percent (8-of-24) from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs took control of the game midway through the opening half. Trailing 10-6, Asheville outscored the visitors, 17-1 over the next six minutes to sprint to a 23-11 lead. Pal dominated by scoring on four consecutive possessions during the run.
Asheville used a late run to end the half as the Bulldogs built a 41-24 halftime lead. Hughes scored seven points in the final four minutes of the half.
GWU shot just 24 percent (8-of-33) from the field in the opening half. The Bulldogs outrebounded the visitors, 31-17 in the opening half. Pal finished with 15 points in the half and was 7-of-7 from the field.
In the second half, GWU closed to 10 at 47-37 but that was as close as the Runnin' Bulldogs would get. The Dogs led 59-44 with 7:51 left but scored the next 14 points to blow the game open as six different Asheville players scored during the run.
Asheville finished with a season-high 25 assists on 31 baskets.
UNC Asheville is back in action this Thursday night when the Bulldogs host BSC foe Liberty at Kimmel Arena starting at 7 p.m.
