University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 3
Asheville, NC
4:30 PM
UNC Asheville
16-9, 9-3BSC
75
vs
61
Presbyterian
10-15, 3-9BSC
1
2
F
Presbyterian College
31
30
61
UNC Asheville
37
38
75
Photo by: Dawson Powers
Bulldogs Best Blue Hose to Win 20th Straight Home Game and Take Over Sole Possession of First in Big South
02.03.2018 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Ahmad Thomas just missed on a triple-double in leading UNC Asheville men's basketball to its 20th straight home win and sole possession of first place in the Big South Conference in a 75-61 victory over Presbyterian College at Kimmel Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Thomas overall led three Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points to go along with a career-high tying nine assists and a career-best 14 rebounds.
UNC Asheville's Jonathan Baehre just missed on a double-double in the game with 11 points and eight rebounds. He had a career-best five blocks.
The final Bulldog in double figures was Raekwon Miller, who ended his efforts with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Overall in the contest, UNC Asheville led for almost 34 minutes with the Bulldogs leading by as many as 16 with 1:26 to play in the game.
UNC Asheville (16-9, 9-3 Big South Conference) finished its win over Presbyterian College (10-15, 3-9 Big South Conference) shooting 50 percent (29-of-58) as a team. The Bulldogs limited the Blue Hose to 38.9 percent (21-of-54) shooting as a team.
The Bulldogs connected upon 45 percent (9-of-20) of their three-point field goal attempts in the game. Six different Bulldogs had at least one made three-pointer in the game.
The Blue Hose had four players in double figures with Reggie Dillard leading Presbyterian College in its loss with 14 points.
BULLDOG BITES
Sole Possession of First Place
UNC Asheville's win over Presbyterian College allowed the Bulldogs to take over sole possession of first place in the Big South Conference with a 9-3 league mark. To see the full standings, please visit HERE.
Playing Great Basketball
After starting Big South play at 1-2, UNC Asheville has now won five straight and eight of its last nine games to move to 16-9 overall and 9-3 in league play.
Flirting With History Once Again
Ahmad Thomas has had many special days as a Bulldog, but his performance against Presbyterian College with 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists was something to behold. Thomas' 14 rebounds were a career high and his nine assists in the win over the Blue Hose matched his career-best nine assists in the thrilling 90-85 overtime win over Gardner-Webb at Kimmel Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Thomas now has a team-best five double-doubles this season and 17 double-doubles in his career. He has now just missed on a triple-double twice in his Bulldog career. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in that overtime Gardner-Webb win last season.
Thomas the Engine
With his 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the win over Presbyterian College on Feb. 3, 2018, it marked the first time that a Bulldog has led the team in points, rebounds and assists since Thomas also accomplished the feat with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a UNC Asheville win at Presbyterian College on Jan. 26, 2017.
Assisting Others
UNC Asheville had 22 assists on 29 made field goals in the win over Presbyterian College. The Bulldogs now have six games this season with 20 or more assists as a team.
Home Sweet Home
The league home win over Presbyterian College allowed the Bulldogs to extend their home winning streak to 20. The win over the Blue Hose was UNC Asheville's 15th consecutive Big South Conference home victory. UNC Asheville is now 79-16 overall and 54-10 against Big South foes within the friendly confines of Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center. The Bulldogs are 11-0 on the 2017-18 season at Kimmel Arena.
Baehre's Block Party Continues
For the fourth time this season, UNC Asheville's Jonathan Baehre finished a Bulldog win with four or more blocks. Baehre swatted four Presbyterian College shots to go along with his 11 points and eight rebounds.
Welcome Back
It was a tremendous Bulldog Basketball & Alumni Weekend at UNC Asheville. Along with tons of former Bulldog student-athletes attendance for both the men's and women's basketball games on Saturday, Feb. 3, UNC Asheville also honored the 10th, 15th and 20th anniversary teams of the men's Big South championship teams of 1998, 2003 and 2008 at halftime of the men's win over the Blue Hose. One day earlier, UNC Asheville held the Alumni Legacy Game at Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center. To learn more about the special Alumni Legacy Game and see a great video produced by Mark Godin on the event, please visit HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next hit the road to travel to Farmville, Va. to take on Longwood at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Quotable
Thomas overall led three Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points to go along with a career-high tying nine assists and a career-best 14 rebounds.
UNC Asheville's Jonathan Baehre just missed on a double-double in the game with 11 points and eight rebounds. He had a career-best five blocks.
The final Bulldog in double figures was Raekwon Miller, who ended his efforts with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Overall in the contest, UNC Asheville led for almost 34 minutes with the Bulldogs leading by as many as 16 with 1:26 to play in the game.
UNC Asheville (16-9, 9-3 Big South Conference) finished its win over Presbyterian College (10-15, 3-9 Big South Conference) shooting 50 percent (29-of-58) as a team. The Bulldogs limited the Blue Hose to 38.9 percent (21-of-54) shooting as a team.
The Bulldogs connected upon 45 percent (9-of-20) of their three-point field goal attempts in the game. Six different Bulldogs had at least one made three-pointer in the game.
The Blue Hose had four players in double figures with Reggie Dillard leading Presbyterian College in its loss with 14 points.
BULLDOG BITES
Sole Possession of First Place
UNC Asheville's win over Presbyterian College allowed the Bulldogs to take over sole possession of first place in the Big South Conference with a 9-3 league mark. To see the full standings, please visit HERE.
Playing Great Basketball
After starting Big South play at 1-2, UNC Asheville has now won five straight and eight of its last nine games to move to 16-9 overall and 9-3 in league play.
Flirting With History Once Again
Ahmad Thomas has had many special days as a Bulldog, but his performance against Presbyterian College with 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists was something to behold. Thomas' 14 rebounds were a career high and his nine assists in the win over the Blue Hose matched his career-best nine assists in the thrilling 90-85 overtime win over Gardner-Webb at Kimmel Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Thomas now has a team-best five double-doubles this season and 17 double-doubles in his career. He has now just missed on a triple-double twice in his Bulldog career. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in that overtime Gardner-Webb win last season.
Thomas the Engine
With his 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the win over Presbyterian College on Feb. 3, 2018, it marked the first time that a Bulldog has led the team in points, rebounds and assists since Thomas also accomplished the feat with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a UNC Asheville win at Presbyterian College on Jan. 26, 2017.
Assisting Others
UNC Asheville had 22 assists on 29 made field goals in the win over Presbyterian College. The Bulldogs now have six games this season with 20 or more assists as a team.
Home Sweet Home
The league home win over Presbyterian College allowed the Bulldogs to extend their home winning streak to 20. The win over the Blue Hose was UNC Asheville's 15th consecutive Big South Conference home victory. UNC Asheville is now 79-16 overall and 54-10 against Big South foes within the friendly confines of Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center. The Bulldogs are 11-0 on the 2017-18 season at Kimmel Arena.
Baehre's Block Party Continues
For the fourth time this season, UNC Asheville's Jonathan Baehre finished a Bulldog win with four or more blocks. Baehre swatted four Presbyterian College shots to go along with his 11 points and eight rebounds.
Welcome Back
It was a tremendous Bulldog Basketball & Alumni Weekend at UNC Asheville. Along with tons of former Bulldog student-athletes attendance for both the men's and women's basketball games on Saturday, Feb. 3, UNC Asheville also honored the 10th, 15th and 20th anniversary teams of the men's Big South championship teams of 1998, 2003 and 2008 at halftime of the men's win over the Blue Hose. One day earlier, UNC Asheville held the Alumni Legacy Game at Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center. To learn more about the special Alumni Legacy Game and see a great video produced by Mark Godin on the event, please visit HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next hit the road to travel to Farmville, Va. to take on Longwood at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Quotable
Team Stats
PC
AVL
FG%
.389
.500
3FG%
.435
.450
FT%
.750
.727
RB
28
38
TO
11
8
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ 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