University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, February 15
Asheville, NC
7:00 PM
UNC Asheville
18-10, 11-4BSC
69
vs
82
Liberty
17-11, 8-7BSC
1
2
OT 1
F
Liberty
33
36
13
82
UNC Asheville
25
44
0
69
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
UNC Asheville Sees Impressive Home Winning Streak Come to End in Overtime Loss to Liberty
02.15.2018 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's basketball lost its first home game since Dec. 19, 2016, in a 82-69 overtime Big South Conference loss to Liberty on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at Kimmel Arena.
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for UNC Asheville (18-10, 11-4 Big South Conference) in the 2017-18 conference season with the Bulldogs having not lost since Jan. 18, 2018.
UNC Asheville nevertheless is still tied atop the Big South Conference league standings with Winthrop (17-9, 11-4 Big South Conference) with three league games remaining.
In a game where the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands six times, the Bulldogs actually thought they had once again picked up a dramatic victory with Ahmad Thomas knocking down a tough jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining in the second half to give the Bulldogs a 69-67 lead.
Liberty had to execute perfectly next to send the game to overtime and they did with Scottie James catching a full court pass from Keegan McDowell and then connecting on a layup that tied the game up at 69-69 at the end of regulation.
The Bulldogs would not be able to hold off the Flames in overtime from there.
UNC Asheville finished its loss to Liberty shooting 43.1 percent (22-of-51) as a team. Liberty shot 50 percent (30-of-60) as a team in its win.
Four Bulldogs finished in double figures with Thomas once again putting together a signature performance against Liberty with 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jonathan Baehre and Kevin Vannatta both ended their nights with 11 points. Baehre also had three rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist, while Vannatta also had seven rebounds three assists and one steal.
The final Bulldog in double figures was MaCio Teague with 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
James led three Flames in double figures with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
BULLDOG BITES
Been a Long Time
UNC Asheville had entered its loss to Liberty with 21 straight home wins, which was the third-longest streak in the country. UNC Asheville's last loss at Kimmel Arena before the overtime loss to Liberty was a 75-73 loss to UNCG on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. In addition, Liberty's win over UNC Asheville snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville is now still an impressive 80-17 overall and 55-11 against Big South Conference foes at Kimmel Arena.
Thomas Continues Strong Play Against Liberty
Ahmad Thomas continued his strong play in his career against Liberty with his 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Thomas has now scored over 20 against Liberty five times in his career. His career-best of 31 points came in UNC Asheville's home win over Liberty on Feb. 25, 2017, meaning that Thomas has posted 30 or more against the Flames in his last two home games against Liberty.
Still on Top
UNC Asheville remains tied for the league lead in the Big South Conference despite the loss at 11-4. To see the full standings, please visit HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next travel to Charleston, S.C. to face off against Big South foe Charleston Southern at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Quotable
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for UNC Asheville (18-10, 11-4 Big South Conference) in the 2017-18 conference season with the Bulldogs having not lost since Jan. 18, 2018.
UNC Asheville nevertheless is still tied atop the Big South Conference league standings with Winthrop (17-9, 11-4 Big South Conference) with three league games remaining.
In a game where the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands six times, the Bulldogs actually thought they had once again picked up a dramatic victory with Ahmad Thomas knocking down a tough jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining in the second half to give the Bulldogs a 69-67 lead.
Liberty had to execute perfectly next to send the game to overtime and they did with Scottie James catching a full court pass from Keegan McDowell and then connecting on a layup that tied the game up at 69-69 at the end of regulation.
The Bulldogs would not be able to hold off the Flames in overtime from there.
UNC Asheville finished its loss to Liberty shooting 43.1 percent (22-of-51) as a team. Liberty shot 50 percent (30-of-60) as a team in its win.
Four Bulldogs finished in double figures with Thomas once again putting together a signature performance against Liberty with 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jonathan Baehre and Kevin Vannatta both ended their nights with 11 points. Baehre also had three rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist, while Vannatta also had seven rebounds three assists and one steal.
The final Bulldog in double figures was MaCio Teague with 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
James led three Flames in double figures with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
BULLDOG BITES
Been a Long Time
UNC Asheville had entered its loss to Liberty with 21 straight home wins, which was the third-longest streak in the country. UNC Asheville's last loss at Kimmel Arena before the overtime loss to Liberty was a 75-73 loss to UNCG on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. In addition, Liberty's win over UNC Asheville snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville is now still an impressive 80-17 overall and 55-11 against Big South Conference foes at Kimmel Arena.
Thomas Continues Strong Play Against Liberty
Ahmad Thomas continued his strong play in his career against Liberty with his 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Thomas has now scored over 20 against Liberty five times in his career. His career-best of 31 points came in UNC Asheville's home win over Liberty on Feb. 25, 2017, meaning that Thomas has posted 30 or more against the Flames in his last two home games against Liberty.
Still on Top
UNC Asheville remains tied for the league lead in the Big South Conference despite the loss at 11-4. To see the full standings, please visit HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next travel to Charleston, S.C. to face off against Big South foe Charleston Southern at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Quotable
Team Stats
LIBERTY
AVL
FG%
.500
.431
3FG%
.500
.333
FT%
.556
.655
RB
37
34
TO
11
11
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Pts
30
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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