University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
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Bulldogs Continue Opening Stretch of Conference Play at Liberty on Tuesday
01.02.2017 | Men's Basketball
Asheville-Liberty Game Notes
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference)
Liberty (7-8, 2-0 Big South Conference)
Location: Lynchburg, Va./Vines Center
When: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017/7 p.m.
Live Video: Big South Network/LFSN
Radio: NEWS RADIO 570 WWNC
Live Stats: http://www.liberty.edu/flames
Twitter: @ashevilledogs #ThePursuit
BULLDOG BITES
HOME CONFERENCE OPENER: UNC Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) 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.
SERIES: UNC Asheville and Liberty will be meeting for the 58th time on Tuesday evening. The Bulldogs own a 37-20 all-time series advantage with Asheville having won the last 10 meetings.
SOLID NON-CONFERENCE: UNC Asheville closed out its non-conference slate with a record of 8-5. The Bulldogs picked up four road wins during non-conference play, which included impressive road wins at Coastal Carolina and Elon.
TEAGUE SELECTED BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (JAN. 2): The league office announced on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, that UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague had been selected as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week. In Asheville's overtime loss at Radford on Thursday, Dec. 29, Teague finished with 14 points, five rebounds, one block and one assist. He was 6-of-12 from the field overall. Teague finished Asheville's thrilling overtime win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kimmel Arena with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Teague was 8-of-12 overall from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. In the two games the freshman guard out of Cincinnati, Ohio averaged 19.5 points and four rebounds per game. The Walnut Hills High School product shot 14-for-24 (58.3 percent) from the field overall and 6-of-9 (66.6 percent) from beyond the arc in the two games.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bulldogs are 5-1 on the year at home with wins over Siena, Brevard, Warren Wilson and Western Carolina. The Asheville men protected home court very efficiently last season as well, going 11-3 at home. UNC Asheville is 60-16 at Kimmel Arena all-time.
TEAGUE SELECTED BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (DEC. 27): UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague was selected the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week by the league office on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. In Asheville's narrow loss to UNCG on Monday, Dec. 19, Teague scored a career-best 29 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and one steal. Teague connected on six three-pointers in the contest with the Spartans. He was 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in total. Teague followed up his performance against UNCG by putting together another impressive performance against Ohio State on Thursday, Dec. 22, with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal. In the Bulldogs' two games over the course of the week, Teague averaged 26 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal per game. He was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe and he shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field overall and 50 percent (8-of-16) from beyond the arc.
A HUGE LIFT: UNC Asheville's David Robertson has been a huge spark for the Bulldogs during the start of conference play. Robertson entered Big South Conference play averaging 3.8 points per game in 14 minutes per game. In UNC Asheville's conference opener at Radford, Robertson scored 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 29 minutes played. Robertson collected a career-best 23 points, including seven three-pointers, in UNC Asheville's home overtime win over Gardner-Webb. Robertson was 8-of-14 from the field overall in the Bulldog win.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs second in the country in total steals (155). The Bulldogs are also sixth in the country in steals per game (10.33).
ESPNU TO TELEVISE UNC ASHEVILLE RIVALRY SHOWDOWN AT WINTHROP: ESPNU has selected the UNC Asheville at Winthrop men's basketball contest scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 19, as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast, it was announced by the Big South Conference office on Monday, Dec. 26. Game time will be 9 p.m. inside the Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C. Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Nate Ross (analyst) will handle the call from courtside. "We are incredibly thankful ESPNU has picked this game as a Wildcard Selection broadcast," UNC Asheville head men's basketball coach Nick McDevitt said. "We consider this to be one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball, and we are really excited that the first of our meetings this year will be featured on national television."
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.
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: 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: Will Weeks just missed on a double-double of his own with 10 points and seven rebounds in the overtime win over Gardner-Webb. He acquired five of his seven boards on the offensive glass.
TOPS IN THE NATION: A record-breaking performance in UNC Asheville's dominant win over Warren Wilson earlier this season vaulted junior guard Ahmad Thomas into the top spot in the entire country in steals. The Danville, Va. native collected a program-record 10 steals in Asheville's win over Warren Wilson on Saturday, Dec. 10. He also had 13 points to procure a rare double-double in steals and points. On the year in 34.0 minutes played per game, Thomas has picked up 49 steals, which is the best in the nation. He is fourth in steals per game at 3.27 per outing.
THOMAS THE CONSISTENT ENGINE: Ahmad Thomas has scored in double figures every game this season. Thomas has also recorded multiple rebounds and picked up at least a steal in each Bulldog game.
UP NEXT: UNC Asheville welcomes High Point to Kimmel Arena for a Big South Conference matchup at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7.
QUOTABLES
"The Vines Center is not an easy place to go and play. We're facing a first-place team in Liberty at 2-0. Obviously it's early, but they were picked to finish second in the preseason and they're currently in first place, so that won't be an easy one. Coach McKay does a very good job with his ball club, and we've got to be ready to go and play awfully well on the road." - Nick McDevitt
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference)
Liberty (7-8, 2-0 Big South Conference)
Location: Lynchburg, Va./Vines Center
When: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017/7 p.m.
Live Video: Big South Network/LFSN
Radio: NEWS RADIO 570 WWNC
Live Stats: http://www.liberty.edu/flames
Twitter: @ashevilledogs #ThePursuit
BULLDOG BITES
HOME CONFERENCE OPENER: UNC Asheville (9-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) 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.
SERIES: UNC Asheville and Liberty will be meeting for the 58th time on Tuesday evening. The Bulldogs own a 37-20 all-time series advantage with Asheville having won the last 10 meetings.
SOLID NON-CONFERENCE: UNC Asheville closed out its non-conference slate with a record of 8-5. The Bulldogs picked up four road wins during non-conference play, which included impressive road wins at Coastal Carolina and Elon.
TEAGUE SELECTED BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (JAN. 2): The league office announced on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, that UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague had been selected as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week. In Asheville's overtime loss at Radford on Thursday, Dec. 29, Teague finished with 14 points, five rebounds, one block and one assist. He was 6-of-12 from the field overall. Teague finished Asheville's thrilling overtime win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kimmel Arena with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Teague was 8-of-12 overall from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. In the two games the freshman guard out of Cincinnati, Ohio averaged 19.5 points and four rebounds per game. The Walnut Hills High School product shot 14-for-24 (58.3 percent) from the field overall and 6-of-9 (66.6 percent) from beyond the arc in the two games.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bulldogs are 5-1 on the year at home with wins over Siena, Brevard, Warren Wilson and Western Carolina. The Asheville men protected home court very efficiently last season as well, going 11-3 at home. UNC Asheville is 60-16 at Kimmel Arena all-time.
TEAGUE SELECTED BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (DEC. 27): UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague was selected the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week by the league office on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. In Asheville's narrow loss to UNCG on Monday, Dec. 19, Teague scored a career-best 29 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and one steal. Teague connected on six three-pointers in the contest with the Spartans. He was 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in total. Teague followed up his performance against UNCG by putting together another impressive performance against Ohio State on Thursday, Dec. 22, with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal. In the Bulldogs' two games over the course of the week, Teague averaged 26 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal per game. He was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe and he shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field overall and 50 percent (8-of-16) from beyond the arc.
A HUGE LIFT: UNC Asheville's David Robertson has been a huge spark for the Bulldogs during the start of conference play. Robertson entered Big South Conference play averaging 3.8 points per game in 14 minutes per game. In UNC Asheville's conference opener at Radford, Robertson scored 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 29 minutes played. Robertson collected a career-best 23 points, including seven three-pointers, in UNC Asheville's home overtime win over Gardner-Webb. Robertson was 8-of-14 from the field overall in the Bulldog win.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs second in the country in total steals (155). The Bulldogs are also sixth in the country in steals per game (10.33).
ESPNU TO TELEVISE UNC ASHEVILLE RIVALRY SHOWDOWN AT WINTHROP: ESPNU has selected the UNC Asheville at Winthrop men's basketball contest scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 19, as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast, it was announced by the Big South Conference office on Monday, Dec. 26. Game time will be 9 p.m. inside the Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C. Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Nate Ross (analyst) will handle the call from courtside. "We are incredibly thankful ESPNU has picked this game as a Wildcard Selection broadcast," UNC Asheville head men's basketball coach Nick McDevitt said. "We consider this to be one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball, and we are really excited that the first of our meetings this year will be featured on national television."
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.
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: 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: Will Weeks just missed on a double-double of his own with 10 points and seven rebounds in the overtime win over Gardner-Webb. He acquired five of his seven boards on the offensive glass.
TOPS IN THE NATION: A record-breaking performance in UNC Asheville's dominant win over Warren Wilson earlier this season vaulted junior guard Ahmad Thomas into the top spot in the entire country in steals. The Danville, Va. native collected a program-record 10 steals in Asheville's win over Warren Wilson on Saturday, Dec. 10. He also had 13 points to procure a rare double-double in steals and points. On the year in 34.0 minutes played per game, Thomas has picked up 49 steals, which is the best in the nation. He is fourth in steals per game at 3.27 per outing.
THOMAS THE CONSISTENT ENGINE: Ahmad Thomas has scored in double figures every game this season. Thomas has also recorded multiple rebounds and picked up at least a steal in each Bulldog game.
UP NEXT: UNC Asheville welcomes High Point to Kimmel Arena for a Big South Conference matchup at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7.
QUOTABLES
"The Vines Center is not an easy place to go and play. We're facing a first-place team in Liberty at 2-0. Obviously it's early, but they were picked to finish second in the preseason and they're currently in first place, so that won't be an easy one. Coach McKay does a very good job with his ball club, and we've got to be ready to go and play awfully well on the road." - Nick McDevitt
Players Mentioned
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