University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, January 6
Radford, VA
4:00 PM
UNC Asheville
8-8 (1-2BSC)
70
at
90
Radford
10-6 (3-0BSC)
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
32
38
70
Radford
37
53
90
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Bulldogs Drop League Road Game at Radford
01.06.2018 | Men's Basketball
RADFORD, Va. – UNC Asheville controlled the opening of the second half, but Radford took control down the stretch to pick up a 90-70 Big South Conference win over the visiting Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Dedmon Center.
The Highlanders (10-6, 3-0 Big South Conference) opened the game by garnering a 10-5 lead over the first few minutes, but a 10-2 run by the Bulldogs over the next few minutes allowed UNC Asheville to take 15-12 lead after a Drew Rackley three-pointer with 13:20 remaining in the opening stanza.
From there, Radford would go on a short run of its own to lead 25-19, but the Bulldogs would score the next seven to lead 26-25 after a Jonathan Baehre bucket with 6:51 left on the clock in half No. 1.
The two teams would go on to enter the halftime break with Radford leading the Bulldogs, 37-32.
UNC Asheville (8-8, 1-2 Big South Conference) shot 40 percent (12-of-30) in the first half, while Radford shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26).
The second half would open with the Bulldogs going on a 14-0 run to take a 46-37 lead after a MaCio Teague three-point play with 16:31 remaining in the contest.
The two teams would be tied at 56-all with 11:36 remaining in the game. Radford from there would go on a 14-5 run of its own to lead 70-61 with under six and half minutes to play.
The Highlanders would control things the rest of the way to hand UNC Asheville back-to-back Big South Conference road losses for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Four Bulldogs finished in double figures with Thomas leading the way with 15 points and six rebounds. He also had one block and one steal.
Rackley ended his efforts for the Bulldogs on the day by tying his career high with 14 points. Rackley was 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the game.
Teague finished with 11 points for the Bulldogs, while Wnuk collected 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
As a team, UNC Asheville shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field in the game. The Highlanders in their win shot 58.5 percent (31-of-53) as a team.
Radford was led by Ed Polite, Jr., who was 9-of-10 from the field in the game en route to a game-high 29 points.
BULLDOG BITES
Strong from the Free Throw Line
For the fourth time this season and the second straight game the Bulldogs shot over 85 percent from the free throw line as a team, ending the loss to Radford shooting 87.5 percent (14-of-16). Kevin Vannatta was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the game.
Just Missed on Double-Double
Kevin Vannatta did not score in double figures in the game, but he just missed on a double-double with nine rebounds and eight boards. He also had four assists in the loss to Radford.
High Percentage
Alec Wnuk after his 5-of-10 performance from the field against Radford has opened UNC Asheville's first three games of Big South play by going 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from the floor.
Nearing More History
Ahmad Thomas is already just the sixth player in Big South Conference men's basketball history with over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals. Thomas is nearing becoming just the second player in league history with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 200 steals and 200 assists. Thomas ended the conference game at Radford with 1,316 points, 604 rebounds, 217 steals and 199 assists.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next welcome Longwood to Kimmel Arena for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The game will serve as UNC Asheville's Camper Reunion game, as the Bulldogs welcome back all of their junior campers from 2017. It's also Partner Appreciation Night at Kimmel Arena with the Bulldogs welcoming all of their local sponsors to the game.
The Highlanders (10-6, 3-0 Big South Conference) opened the game by garnering a 10-5 lead over the first few minutes, but a 10-2 run by the Bulldogs over the next few minutes allowed UNC Asheville to take 15-12 lead after a Drew Rackley three-pointer with 13:20 remaining in the opening stanza.
From there, Radford would go on a short run of its own to lead 25-19, but the Bulldogs would score the next seven to lead 26-25 after a Jonathan Baehre bucket with 6:51 left on the clock in half No. 1.
The two teams would go on to enter the halftime break with Radford leading the Bulldogs, 37-32.
UNC Asheville (8-8, 1-2 Big South Conference) shot 40 percent (12-of-30) in the first half, while Radford shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26).
The second half would open with the Bulldogs going on a 14-0 run to take a 46-37 lead after a MaCio Teague three-point play with 16:31 remaining in the contest.
The two teams would be tied at 56-all with 11:36 remaining in the game. Radford from there would go on a 14-5 run of its own to lead 70-61 with under six and half minutes to play.
The Highlanders would control things the rest of the way to hand UNC Asheville back-to-back Big South Conference road losses for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Four Bulldogs finished in double figures with Thomas leading the way with 15 points and six rebounds. He also had one block and one steal.
Rackley ended his efforts for the Bulldogs on the day by tying his career high with 14 points. Rackley was 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the game.
Teague finished with 11 points for the Bulldogs, while Wnuk collected 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
As a team, UNC Asheville shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field in the game. The Highlanders in their win shot 58.5 percent (31-of-53) as a team.
Radford was led by Ed Polite, Jr., who was 9-of-10 from the field in the game en route to a game-high 29 points.
BULLDOG BITES
Strong from the Free Throw Line
For the fourth time this season and the second straight game the Bulldogs shot over 85 percent from the free throw line as a team, ending the loss to Radford shooting 87.5 percent (14-of-16). Kevin Vannatta was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the game.
Just Missed on Double-Double
Kevin Vannatta did not score in double figures in the game, but he just missed on a double-double with nine rebounds and eight boards. He also had four assists in the loss to Radford.
High Percentage
Alec Wnuk after his 5-of-10 performance from the field against Radford has opened UNC Asheville's first three games of Big South play by going 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from the floor.
Nearing More History
Ahmad Thomas is already just the sixth player in Big South Conference men's basketball history with over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals. Thomas is nearing becoming just the second player in league history with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 200 steals and 200 assists. Thomas ended the conference game at Radford with 1,316 points, 604 rebounds, 217 steals and 199 assists.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next welcome Longwood to Kimmel Arena for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The game will serve as UNC Asheville's Camper Reunion game, as the Bulldogs welcome back all of their junior campers from 2017. It's also Partner Appreciation Night at Kimmel Arena with the Bulldogs welcoming all of their local sponsors to the game.
Team Stats
AVL
RAD
FG%
.431
.585
3FG%
.300
.450
FT%
.875
.792
RB
24
33
TO
12
13
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballHighlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #5 Longwood (Big South Tournament)
Monday, March 18
Highlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Gardner-Webb (Big South Tournament)
Monday, March 18
Highlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #7 Charleston Southern (Big South Tournament)
Thursday, March 14
Highlights || Men's Basketball || UNC Asheville at Radford
Monday, March 04