University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Rowsey's Free Throws Put Bulldogs in First Place
02.09.2015 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N,C, – Andrew Rowsey hit three free throws with three seconds left to lead UNC Asheville to a 92-89 Big South Conference road win at Gardner-Webb Monday night.
The win pushed the Bulldogs (13-11, 9-4 BSC) into first place in the Big South Conference. Five teams are a half-game behind Asheville with Gardner-Webb (16-10, 8-5 BSC) dropping to seventh place.
Sophomore center Giacomo Zilli set a career-high in scoring for the second straight game with 19 points. He was 7-of-8 from the field. Rowsey also had 19 points. Kevin Vannatta chipped in 17 points, while Will Weeks added a season-high 12 points and six rebounds.
Asheville shot a season-high 63 percent (37-of-59) from the field. The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 54 percent (34-of-63) from the field and 42 percent (12-of-29) from beyond the arc.
Jerome Hill led Gardner-Webb with 19 points. Tyler Strange had 14 points and 14 assists.
The Bulldogs led throughout the game and was up 89-82 when Gardner-Webb scored seven straight points to knot the game at 89-89 on a Hill lay-up with 1:20 left.
Zilli was called for an offensive foul at the 57-second mark, giving the ball back to Gardner-Webb. Asheville's defense stiffened as Harold McBride's three-point attempt misfired. Weeks grabbed the rebound.
The Bulldogs chose to play for the final shot. Rowsey drove and was fouled by Gardner-Webb guard Tyler Strange on a three-point attempt at the 3-second mark.
After a Runnin' Bulldog timeout, Rowsey calmly knocked down all three free throws to put Asheville in front 92-89.
Strange's heave from half-court was off target and the Bulldogs earned their fourth BSC road win of the season.
“This was a great basketball game, and I'm real proud of our guys for finding a way to win against a good team on the road,” stated Bulldog coach Nick McDevitt. “We were able to make enough plays to win.
“I thought we played great and I thought Gardner-Webb played really well, too,” added McDevitt. “Everyone who played for us tonight contributed in some way. What a great game from Giacomo Zilli and Will Weeks. Our inside game was tremendous.”
UNC Asheville is back at home Thursday night when the Bulldogs entertain Big South foe Presbyterian College at Kimmel Arena starting at 7 p.m.
