University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Second Half Pushes Bulldogs Past Gardner-Webb
01.16.2016 | Men's Basketball
THE RUNDOWN
Score: Asheville 75 – Gardner-Webb 69
Teams: Asheville (13-6, 6-1 BSC)
Gardner-Webb (10-9, 5-2 BSC)
Location: Kimmel Arena / Asheville, N.C.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Down six at the half, UNC Asheville stormed back in the final 20 minutes to grab a 75-69 victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday afternoon in a battle between teams at the top of the Big South standings.
The Bulldogs outscored Gardner-Webb by 15 points in the second half and shot 59 percent from the floor in the second stanza after tallying just six made shots (6-30, 20 percent) from the floor in the first half.
THE TURNING POINT
Asheville hit its final 12 free throws over the final 4:23 seconds. Tied at 56-all at that point, the Bulldogs closed the game hitting three of four shots from the floor and 12-of-12 from the stripe while holding Gardner-Webb to just 5-of-11 shooting from the floor. Gardner-Webb tallied four free throw shots (2-4) in the final 4:23.
NOTABLES
-Four Bulldogs finished in double-figures, led by Ahmad Thomas' game-high 21 point night. Thomas hit 12 of his 15 free throw attempts while finishing with a double-double after grabbing 12 rebounds, adding two steals, an assist and a block to his full stat line.
-Sam Hughes tallied 17 points (6-of-9 from the floor), Kevin Vannatta finished with 14 points and Dylan Smith totaled 11 points. Will Weeks finished with seven points and 10 rebounds as well.
-Asheville won the rebounding battle 50-48, with 31 of its boards on the defensive glass. The Bulldogs tallied 20 points off second-chance baskets in the win.
-The Bulldogs hit four of six three-point attempts in the second half during the comeback after going 1-of-11 from long range in the first 20 minutes.
-Asheville tallied more points at the free throw line (32) than Gardner-Webb attempted free throws (27 attempts).
-Gardner-Webb received scoring contributions from nine different players, including three with double-figures in the loss. Tyrell Nelson (11 rebounds) and Laquincy Rideau led the way for the visitors with 18 points each, followed by Dylan Poston (11 points).
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH NICK McDEVITT
On the game – “I thought our first-shot defense was pretty good. We were down at halftime, but I didn't think it was because of effort or what we were doing on the defensive end. We were shooting poorly. You're not going to be ahead in too many games shooting like we did in the first half. We knew our shooting percentages couldn't do anything but go up. We've got guys that can make shots, and when we made shots and continued to defend, the score board changed.”
On the Intensity and gearing up for High Point – “it shows some toughness. Tonight was an emotional game. I thought we showed some poise when it got emotional. Gardner-Webb is a good team, and we hung in there and made some plays down the stretch that were important for us to stay where we are (in the league standings). Each game in league play is important and the one coming Wednesday at High Point is really tough. That's a tough place to play and a really good basketball team.”
UP NEXT
-Following tonight's win, Asheville prepares for another showdown for the top of the Big South Conference when they travel to High Point Wednesday night. The Bulldogs will return home next Saturday, Jan. 23 against Presbyterian.
