University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Look to Keep Pace in Big South Thursday at Radford
01.13.2016 | Men's Basketball
THE MATCHUP
Teams: Asheville (12-5, 5-0 BSC)
Radford (9-8, 2-3 BSC)
Location: Dedmon Center / Radford, VA
Time: 7:00 p.m.
VIDEO (Big South Network) - AUDIO (Bulldog Radio Network) - LIVE STATS
RADFORD, VA – UNC Asheville will look to keep pace at the top of the Big South Conference standings on the road Thursday night at Radford. Asheville has won three of the last four games played at Radford, including last season, and come into the game winners of the last five matchups. Radford is looking to stay undefeated at home in the Big South this season.
NOTABLES
Sutton Earns Awards: Dwayne Sutton was named the BSC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season on Monday (1/11). He took home two awards on 12/14, earning BSC Freshman of the Week honors and also being named College Sports Madness' Big South Player of the Week by the outside publication. He also earned BSC Freshman of the Week back on honors on Nov. 23.
On a Roll: After starting the season 1-2 in their first three games, the Bulldogs have now gone 12-3 in the last 15 contests, including the last five games (four BSC games) and wins in nine of the last 10 contests. Asheville's 5-0 start to the Big South Conference schedule is its best since the 2011-2012 season, when it opened league play 8-0 on the way to the BSC regular season and tournament championships.
In the Series: Thursday's meeting will be the 67th meeting all-time between Asheville and Radford, with the Bulldogs leading 34-32 in the series. The teams split the season series last year, with each time winning on the other's home floor. Asheville grabbed a 62-60 win on the road back on Dec. 31, 2014, while Radford won in Asheville, 75-68, on Feb. 21, 2015. Asheville has won eight of the last 11 meetings in the series. The Bulldogs are 10-20 all-time against Radford inside the Dedmon Center, but have won three of the last four games in Radford.
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH NICK McDEVITT
Road trip to Radford – “I think anytime you go on the road in league play it's tough to get wins. Radford is another tough opponent and a veteran team with seven seniors. The bulk of their minutes are being played by their upper classmen. It will be a tough test for us Thursday night.”
On the depth of the team – “You always want to continue to develop depth, but for us it's not as much about depth as it is another man stepping up, with the loss of David Robertson. Raekwon has been able to step in and provide us with a big lift as of late.”
On continuing to Improve – “The biggest thing for us is that we have to daily work to get better as a group. We are off to a nice start, but it's early in conference play. Being five games in to an 18 game schedule, there is a lot of basketball left to be played. We talk to our team daily about being a better ball club when tournament time comes around.”
UP NEXT
-Following Thursday's game, the Bulldogs return home on Saturday afternoon for an Asheville doubleheader against Gardner-Webb. Both the Bulldog men and women will host Gardner-Webb, with the men's game tipping off at approximately 4:30 p.m. following the women's contest. Both games will be broadcast locally on WMYA MY40 television in the Asheville area.
