University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, December 31
Asheville, NC
2:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
(9-6, 1-1BSC)
90
vs
85
Gardner-Webb
(7-8, 0-2BSC)
1
2
OT 1
F
Gardner Webb
34
41
10
85
AVL
28
47
15
90
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Bulldogs Close Out 2016 With Overtime Win Over Gardner-Webb
12.31.2016 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – With all of its five starters in double figures, UNC Asheville picked up a thrilling 90-85 Big South Conference overtime win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kimmel Arena.
Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) would lead by as many as seven points in the first half, but at the end of the first half it would be Gardner-Webb that would own a 34-28 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-8, 0-2 Big South Conference) kicked off the second half by extending their lead to 10 points at 48-38. The double-digit lead would not last long though with Asheville going on a 10-1 run to pull back within one at 49-48 with 11:09 to play in the second half. The game would be tied at 51-all after a MaCio Teague three-pointer with 10:18 left in regulation.
The two teams would keep battling back and forth over the course of the next few minutes with Asheville holding a six-point lead at 73-67 with 1:11 to play in the second stanza. The Bulldogs would not be able to close things out in regulation though with Gardner-Webb tying things up at 75-75 with two seconds left in regulation after a Jamaal Robateau three-pointer.
Asheville would outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs, 15-10, in the overtime period to collect the five-point win.
In a game in which the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 10 times, Asheville finished its win shooting 51.6 percent (32-of-62) as a team. Gardner-Webb shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) as a team in its loss to Asheville.
The reigning Big South Conference Player of the Week, Teague put on another show in the win over Gardner-Webb, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. He was 8-of-12 from the field overall, which included 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Asheville's David Robertson scored a career-best 23 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robertson knocked down a career-high seven three-pointers.
BULLDOG BITES
FREE BASKETBALL: After the overtime win over Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville is now 2-1 on the year in overtime contests. The Bulldogs have now played two straight overtime games to start Big South Conference play.
FLIRTING WITH HISTORY: The national leader in steals, Ahmad Thomas just missed on a double and, in fact, a triple double in Asheville's win over Gardner-Webb. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals and two blocks.
A NEW YEAR'S EVE DISH: Asheville finished its win over Gardner-Webb with 32 made field goals with the Bulldogs collecting assists on 25 of the 32 made field goals. Thomas led the way with his nine assists, while Kevin Vannatta was not far behind with six assists to go along with 11 points, three rebounds and one steal.
DOWNRIGHT OFFENSIVE: The final Bulldog in double figures, Will Weeks just missed on a double-double of his own with 10 points and seven rebounds. He acquired five of his seven boards on the offensive glass.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bulldogs are now 5-1 on the year at home with win overs Sieana, Brevard, Warren Wilson, Western Carolina and now Gardner-Webb. The win over the Runnin' Bulldogs was Asheville's 60th all-time at Kimmel Arena. They are now 60-16 all-time in their first-class home facility.
QUOTABLES
"I was really proud of our resiliency and how we responded to obviously being down 10 in the second half to a really good basketball team. We had to play extremely well down the stretch to be able to come back against a team like that. I thought we did. We shot it well and we were active defensively. And, although the rebounding margin at the end favored Gardner-Webb, I thought we got some key offensive rebounds when it mattered." – Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
UNC Asheville will continue its first week of Big South Conference play by traveling to Lynchburg, Va. to face off against Liberty (7-8, 2-0 Big South Conference) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at the Vines Center.
Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) would lead by as many as seven points in the first half, but at the end of the first half it would be Gardner-Webb that would own a 34-28 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-8, 0-2 Big South Conference) kicked off the second half by extending their lead to 10 points at 48-38. The double-digit lead would not last long though with Asheville going on a 10-1 run to pull back within one at 49-48 with 11:09 to play in the second half. The game would be tied at 51-all after a MaCio Teague three-pointer with 10:18 left in regulation.
The two teams would keep battling back and forth over the course of the next few minutes with Asheville holding a six-point lead at 73-67 with 1:11 to play in the second stanza. The Bulldogs would not be able to close things out in regulation though with Gardner-Webb tying things up at 75-75 with two seconds left in regulation after a Jamaal Robateau three-pointer.
Asheville would outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs, 15-10, in the overtime period to collect the five-point win.
In a game in which the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 10 times, Asheville finished its win shooting 51.6 percent (32-of-62) as a team. Gardner-Webb shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) as a team in its loss to Asheville.
The reigning Big South Conference Player of the Week, Teague put on another show in the win over Gardner-Webb, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. He was 8-of-12 from the field overall, which included 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Asheville's David Robertson scored a career-best 23 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robertson knocked down a career-high seven three-pointers.
BULLDOG BITES
FREE BASKETBALL: After the overtime win over Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville is now 2-1 on the year in overtime contests. The Bulldogs have now played two straight overtime games to start Big South Conference play.
FLIRTING WITH HISTORY: The national leader in steals, Ahmad Thomas just missed on a double and, in fact, a triple double in Asheville's win over Gardner-Webb. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals and two blocks.
A NEW YEAR'S EVE DISH: Asheville finished its win over Gardner-Webb with 32 made field goals with the Bulldogs collecting assists on 25 of the 32 made field goals. Thomas led the way with his nine assists, while Kevin Vannatta was not far behind with six assists to go along with 11 points, three rebounds and one steal.
DOWNRIGHT OFFENSIVE: The final Bulldog in double figures, Will Weeks just missed on a double-double of his own with 10 points and seven rebounds. He acquired five of his seven boards on the offensive glass.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bulldogs are now 5-1 on the year at home with win overs Sieana, Brevard, Warren Wilson, Western Carolina and now Gardner-Webb. The win over the Runnin' Bulldogs was Asheville's 60th all-time at Kimmel Arena. They are now 60-16 all-time in their first-class home facility.
QUOTABLES
"I was really proud of our resiliency and how we responded to obviously being down 10 in the second half to a really good basketball team. We had to play extremely well down the stretch to be able to come back against a team like that. I thought we did. We shot it well and we were active defensively. And, although the rebounding margin at the end favored Gardner-Webb, I thought we got some key offensive rebounds when it mattered." – Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
UNC Asheville will continue its first week of Big South Conference play by traveling to Lynchburg, Va. to face off against Liberty (7-8, 2-0 Big South Conference) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at the Vines Center.
Team Stats
GWU
AVL
FG%
.508
.516
3FG%
.500
.516
FT%
.615
.588
RB
39
33
TO
24
20
STL
11
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
7
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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