University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Battle of the Bulldogs Wednesday Night at Kimmel Arena
01.23.2018 | Men's Basketball
Game Notes
Rocky is Ready for Wednesday - Are You? (Special Video)
Bulldog Basketball & Alumni Weekend Shaping Up to be Special
2017-18 UNC Asheville Men's Basketball Media Guide
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (12-9, 5-3 Big South Conference)
Gardner-Webb (10-11, 5-3 Big South Conference)
Location: Asheville, N.C./Kimmel Arena
Date/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018/7 p.m.
TV: WMYA-TV, My 40
Video: Big South Network
Talent - Jason Patterson (PBP), Mike Gore (Analyst)
Radio: 570 WWNC-Asheville/1440 WMXF-Waynesville
Talent - Brian Hall (PBP), Pat Bryant (Analyst)
Live Stats: uncabulldogs.com
Twitter: @ashevilledogs #ThePursuit
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville is asking all fans to wear white for a "Wednesday Night White Out" when the Bulldogs play host to Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The latest installment of "The Battle of the Bulldogs" gives free admission to all UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb students with ID. It is also Madison County Night with all fans from the area encouraged to support their own in area native in UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Nick McDevitt. Tickets for Madison County residents are just $5.
The contest will also be available locally on TV on WMYA-TV, My 40 and on the radio on 570 WWNC-ASHEVILLE/1440 WMXF-WAYNESVILLE.
BULLDOG BITES
Bulldog Breakdown
VANNATTA JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB ONCE AGAIN: Kevin Vannatta became the 87th player in Big South Conference men's basketball history with 500 rebounds with his three boards in the Winthrop game on Jan. 18. Vannatta, who already surpassed 1,000 points earlier this season, also became just the 57th player in league history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Vannatta is the 18th player in UNC Asheville men's basketball history to collect 500 rebounds in their career. Vannatta presently has 1,145 points and 507 rebounds.
THOMAS CONTINUES MAKING HISTORY: Ahmad Thomas was already just the fifth player in Big South Conference men's basketball history with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 200 steals, but now he is also just the second player in league history with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 200 steals and 200 assists. Thomas became the second in league history in the win over Longwood on Jan. 9. Thomas closed out the Bulldog conference win with 1,329 points, 611 rebounds, 222 steals and 203 assists. Thomas commences the matchup with Gardner-Webb with 1,412 points, 642 rebounds, 227 steals and 212 assists. Thomas also became one of the top-15 scorers in UNC Asheville history with his 21 points in the win over Presbyterian College on Jan. 12. He moved into the top-10 in school history in rebounds in the win over Longwood on Jan. 9. He is currently second in school history in total steals.
VICIOUS VANNATTA: Kevin Vannatta played with fire in the win at Liberty on Jan. 21 with the senior guard knocking down a career-high tying five three-pointers. It's the second time this season that he has knocked down five treys in a game. He also had five made three-pointers in the win over Monmouth earlier this season. Vannatta just missed on tying his career-best of 25 points set in that Monmouth game with his season conference-best 23 points in the victory over Liberty.
BULLDOGS PROFICIENT FROM DOWNTOWN: UNC Asheville connected on a season-best 15 three-pointers as a team in the win over Liberty. The Bulldogs shot a season-best 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from beyond the arc as a team in the victory. Seven different Bulldogs had at least one three-pointer made in the win over Liberty. Kevin Vannatta led the Bulldogs with his five made three-pointers.
20 FOR 20: With Kevin Vannatta and Ahmad Thomas both scoring 23 points in the win at Liberty it marked the second time this season that two Bulldogs had scored over 20 in the same game. Thomas (24) and MaCio Teague (22) both had over 20 points in UNC Asheville's home win over USC Upstate earlier this season.
ASSISTING OTHERS: UNC Asheville had 20 assists on 30 made field goals in the win over Liberty. The Bulldogs now have five games this season with 20 or more assists as a team.
DOMINATING HALF OF PLAY: MaCio Teague's 23 points in the first half against Charleston Southern marked the second time this season and third time in his career that he posted 20 or more points in a single half. Earlier this year, Teague had 20 in the first half in the 82-79 overtime win over Austin Peay on Nov. 19, 2017. Teague also had 24 points in the first half in UNC Asheville's 91-69 Big South Conference road win over Longwood on Feb. 11, 2017.
HOME SWEET HOME: The league win over Charleston Southern on Jan. 15 allowed the Bulldogs to extend their home winning streak to 17. UNC Asheville is now 76-16 overall and 51-10 against Big South foes within the friendly confines of Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center. The Bulldogs are 8-0 on the 2017-18 season at Kimmel Arena.
AMONG THE TOPS: UNC Asheville is currently in the top-45 in the country in steals (7.9), three-point field goal percentage (39.3) and field goal percentage (48.1 percent).
To learn much more, please check out the full game notes HERE.
Series/About Gardner-Webb
SERIES: UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb will be meeting for the 47th time on Wednesday with Asheville having won 14 of the last 17 meetings dating back to the 2007-08 season. UNC Asheville has won six out of the last seven meetings, but Gardner-Webb owns a 27-19 all-time series advantage.
ABOUT GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin' Bulldogs make their way to Kimmel Arena owning a 10-11 record overall on the 2017-18 season. Gardner-Webb like UNC Asheville is currently 5-3 in league play. Three Gardner-Webb players are presently averaging in double figures with David Efianayi leading the way with 17.2 points per game.
Follow it Live
You can catch all of the action live locally on WMYA-TV, My 40 and HERE. You can listen live to the radio broadcast HERE. You can follow the action via live stats HERE.
Up Next
It's going to be a special Saturday, Jan. 27, for UNC Asheville athletics. The day will start with UNC Asheville swimming hosting their final home meet of the year at 11 a.m. against North Florida. The meet will serve as Senior Day for the Bulldogs with the festivities scheduled to get underway at approximately 10:40 a.m. at the Justice Center Pool. Later that same day, UNC Asheville women's tennis will also play host to future Big South Conference rival USC Upstate at 3 p.m. at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown. The UNC Asheville men's tennis team is on the road on Saturday to face Charlotte at 12 p.m.
The full day of Bulldog action also features a Big South Conference basketball doubleheader inside Kimmel Arena. The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will play host to Presbyterian College at 2 p.m. before the UNC Asheville men's basketball team closes out the day by hosting High Point at approximately 4:30 p.m. Both of the games will be featured on ESPN3.
There are tons of fun promotions at the Bulldog basketball doubleheader with the day allowing UNC Asheville athletics to honor all of the elementary and middle school students from the area with A's on their report cards as part of the annual "Bring Your A Game" promotion. The doubleheader will also serve as "Special Olympics Saturday" with UNC Asheville athletics honoring all Special Olympic athletes and volunteers from the area. UNC Asheville will also honor those who served in the local military and ROTC as part of a special "Salute to Service Saturday." All military are free with ID. In addition, the AC Reynolds Rocket Rumble will perform at halftime of the men's basketball game.
Players Mentioned
Monday, March 18
Monday, March 18
Thursday, March 14
Monday, March 04