University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, December 29
Radford, VA
7:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
8-6, 0-1
77
at
80
Radford
6-7, 1-0
1
2
OT 1
F
AVL
37
36
4
77
Radford
38
35
7
80
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Bulldogs Drop Conference Opener at Radford
12.29.2016 | Men's Basketball
RADFORD, Va. – For the first time in quite some time the UNC Asheville men's basketball team dropped its Big South Conference opener with Radford holding off the Bulldogs for an 80-77 overtime win at the Dedmon Center.
UNC Asheville (8-6, 0-1 Big South Conference) scored the opening bucket of the contest on a Giacomo Zilli layup and then followed that up minutes later with David Robertson knocking down a three-pointer to take a 5-2 lead in the very early goings of the game.
The two teams would keep things close over the next few minutes with UNC Asheville owning a 15-13 lead after a Kevin Vannatta jumper in the paint with 11:21 remaining in half No. 1. The Bulldogs would own a 23-20 lead after a Raekwon Miller layup with 7:26 to play in the inaugural half of action.
In a first half where the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 11 times, Radford (6-7, 1-0 Big South Conference) would go on to enter the halftime break with a narrow 38-37 lead over the Bulldogs.
The second half would commence with Ahmad Thomas scoring on a tip-in to give the Bulldogs a 39-38 lead. The Highlanders from there would score 15 of the first 25 points in the second stanza to own a 53-47 lead with just over 12 minutes left in the game.
Radford would go on to lead by as many as 12 points, but after a Robertson jumper for the Bulldogs with 5:32 to play in the second half the Highlanders lead was just four points at 67-63. After a Miller three-point play with 3:04 remaining in the half the lead for Radford was just three at 69-66.
Vannatta shortly thereafter would go to work on the block and his ensuing layup with 1:27 left in the second half pulled the Bulldogs to within one at 69-68. After a Radford bucket to make it 71-68, Asheville's Will Weeks would then score in the paint to keep the Bulldogs within one at 71-70 with 35 seconds remaining in the second half.
The two teams would be all tied up at 73-all after a Robertson three-pointer for the Bulldogs with 13 seconds left in the second half. That would be the score as the two teams entered the extra frame.
The Bulldogs would start the extra period by scoring the first four points to take a 77-73 lead. The Highlanders would then score the next seven to take an 80-77 lead with two seconds to play in overtime. Radford would hold on from there for the three-point win.
Five different Bulldogs ended their efforts in double figures with Thomas, Teague and Robertson tying for team-high honors with 14 points each. Robertson added five assists and Teague had five rebounds. Thomas ended his day with a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, which included five offensive boards. Alec Wnuk posted 11 points in the game, while Vannatta had 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Radford's Caleb Tanner led all in the contest with 24 points.
Radford shot 49.2 percent (29-for-59) from the field as a team, while the Bulldogs ended the game shooting 46.5 percent (33-of-71) as a team.
BULLDOG BITES
BEEN A WHILE: UNC Asheville had entered this year's conference opener against Radford having won 11 straight league lidlifters. The Bulldogs with the loss have now won 19 of their last 21 Big South Conference openers.
TWO STRAIGHT: The Bulldogs and Highlanders have now played two straight overtime regular-season conference games at the Dedmon Center with Radford narrowly winning both. Last year the Highlanders held off the Bulldogs, 81-76, before taking the 80-77 win this year.
QUOTABLES
"I was proud of our effort and the toughness that we showed down the stretch in being down 12 on the road and finding a way to get the game into overtime, but we just didn't come out ready to play. I thought the first 30 minutes we were just a little too sluggish on both ends of the floor and it got us beat." – Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
When the UNC Asheville men's basketball team takes the court for its home Big South Conference opener against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, one lucky fan and/or family in attendance will also win a night to remember forever on New Year's Eve thanks to Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.
In fact, UNC Asheville is asking all fans in attendance for the 2 p.m. game at Kimmel Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, to come with their bags packed, as one lucky fan and/or family in attendance at the game will have the unique opportunity to stay at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park on New Year's Eve night.
In addition to having the opportunity stay in the luxury room with a king bed, the lucky winner will also receive New Year's Eve dinner for two (no alcohol) and breakfast for two on New Year's Day at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.
The lucky fan and/or family to win the exclusive experience has to be in attendance to see UNC Asheville men's basketball take on Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31.
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit www.uncabulldogs.com. To learn more about all of the great offerings at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, please visit www.hiltonasheville.com.
UNC Asheville (8-6, 0-1 Big South Conference) scored the opening bucket of the contest on a Giacomo Zilli layup and then followed that up minutes later with David Robertson knocking down a three-pointer to take a 5-2 lead in the very early goings of the game.
The two teams would keep things close over the next few minutes with UNC Asheville owning a 15-13 lead after a Kevin Vannatta jumper in the paint with 11:21 remaining in half No. 1. The Bulldogs would own a 23-20 lead after a Raekwon Miller layup with 7:26 to play in the inaugural half of action.
In a first half where the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 11 times, Radford (6-7, 1-0 Big South Conference) would go on to enter the halftime break with a narrow 38-37 lead over the Bulldogs.
The second half would commence with Ahmad Thomas scoring on a tip-in to give the Bulldogs a 39-38 lead. The Highlanders from there would score 15 of the first 25 points in the second stanza to own a 53-47 lead with just over 12 minutes left in the game.
Radford would go on to lead by as many as 12 points, but after a Robertson jumper for the Bulldogs with 5:32 to play in the second half the Highlanders lead was just four points at 67-63. After a Miller three-point play with 3:04 remaining in the half the lead for Radford was just three at 69-66.
Vannatta shortly thereafter would go to work on the block and his ensuing layup with 1:27 left in the second half pulled the Bulldogs to within one at 69-68. After a Radford bucket to make it 71-68, Asheville's Will Weeks would then score in the paint to keep the Bulldogs within one at 71-70 with 35 seconds remaining in the second half.
The two teams would be all tied up at 73-all after a Robertson three-pointer for the Bulldogs with 13 seconds left in the second half. That would be the score as the two teams entered the extra frame.
The Bulldogs would start the extra period by scoring the first four points to take a 77-73 lead. The Highlanders would then score the next seven to take an 80-77 lead with two seconds to play in overtime. Radford would hold on from there for the three-point win.
Five different Bulldogs ended their efforts in double figures with Thomas, Teague and Robertson tying for team-high honors with 14 points each. Robertson added five assists and Teague had five rebounds. Thomas ended his day with a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, which included five offensive boards. Alec Wnuk posted 11 points in the game, while Vannatta had 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Radford's Caleb Tanner led all in the contest with 24 points.
Radford shot 49.2 percent (29-for-59) from the field as a team, while the Bulldogs ended the game shooting 46.5 percent (33-of-71) as a team.
BULLDOG BITES
BEEN A WHILE: UNC Asheville had entered this year's conference opener against Radford having won 11 straight league lidlifters. The Bulldogs with the loss have now won 19 of their last 21 Big South Conference openers.
TWO STRAIGHT: The Bulldogs and Highlanders have now played two straight overtime regular-season conference games at the Dedmon Center with Radford narrowly winning both. Last year the Highlanders held off the Bulldogs, 81-76, before taking the 80-77 win this year.
QUOTABLES
"I was proud of our effort and the toughness that we showed down the stretch in being down 12 on the road and finding a way to get the game into overtime, but we just didn't come out ready to play. I thought the first 30 minutes we were just a little too sluggish on both ends of the floor and it got us beat." – Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
When the UNC Asheville men's basketball team takes the court for its home Big South Conference opener against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, one lucky fan and/or family in attendance will also win a night to remember forever on New Year's Eve thanks to Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.
In fact, UNC Asheville is asking all fans in attendance for the 2 p.m. game at Kimmel Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, to come with their bags packed, as one lucky fan and/or family in attendance at the game will have the unique opportunity to stay at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park on New Year's Eve night.
In addition to having the opportunity stay in the luxury room with a king bed, the lucky winner will also receive New Year's Eve dinner for two (no alcohol) and breakfast for two on New Year's Day at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.
The lucky fan and/or family to win the exclusive experience has to be in attendance to see UNC Asheville men's basketball take on Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31.
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit www.uncabulldogs.com. To learn more about all of the great offerings at Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, please visit www.hiltonasheville.com.
Team Stats
AVL
RAD
FG%
.465
.492
3FG%
.308
.478
FT%
.583
.550
RB
38
40
TO
12
18
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballG
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/ Men's Basketball
F
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