University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, January 10
Farmville, VA
7:00 PM
UNC Asheville
2-14, 0-2
62
at
67
Longwood
11-6, 1-1
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
29
33
62
Longwood
35
32
67
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Longwood Narrowly Holds Off UNC Asheville Men’s Basketball
01.10.2019 | Men's Basketball
FARMVILLE, Va. – In a game where the largest lead on either side was just six points it was Longwood that picked up a narrow 67-62 Big South Conference victory over UNC Asheville men's basketball on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at Willett Hall.
UNC Asheville (2-14, 0-2 Big South Conference) opened the game by taking an 8-5 lead over the first just over four minutes. Donovan Gilmore collected four of UNC Asheville's first eight points in the game.
The Bulldogs would still lead by three at 15-12 after an LJ Thorpe mid-range jumper with 8:57 left in the opening half.
The two teams would keep trading baskets over the next few minutes with the Bulldogs up by two at 24-22 with under four left in the first half. The game would be tied at 27-all after a Coty Jude three-pointer with 2:22 left in the first stanza.
The Lancers (11-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) from there would close the half on an 8-2 run to take a 35-29 lead into intermission.
UNC Asheville finished the first half shooting 44 percent (11-of-25), while Longwood shot 45 percent (9-of-20) as a team. The Lancers made 13 free throws in the first half.
The second half opened with UNC Asheville scoring eight of the first 11 points in the half to pull within one at 38-37 with 16:30 remaining in the contest.
The Bulldogs would eventually take the lead a few minutes later after a Cress Worthy three-pointer with 9:02 left in the game gave Asheville a 51-50 advantage.
Longwood would go on to lead by as many as five at 61-56, but another Worthy triple and a Jeremy Peck layup off a beautifully executed play call by Mike Morrell and the UNC Asheville coaching staff had the Bulldogs down just one at 61-60 with 3:18 to play in the contest.
The Lancers would hold on from there for the narrow five-point win.
UNC Asheville finished the game shooting 40.4 percent (23-of-57) as a team. The Bulldogs shot 90 percent (9-of-10) from the free throw line in the game.
Longwood ended its win shooting 38.3 percent (18-of-47) as a team. The Lancers did a great deal of their damage at the free throw line where they were 22-of-27 (81.5 percent).
Three Bulldogs finished in double figures with Baker leading the way with 14 points to go along with a career-best six assists. He also had two rebounds and one steal.
Worthy had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He also had four boards.
The final Bulldog in double figures was Gilmore, who posted 10 points and five boards.Gimore was a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.
BULLDOG BITES
Taking Advantage at the Free Throw Line
For the third straight game, UNC Asheville finished its efforts shooting at or above 90 percent at the free throw line in its league road opener at Longwood. UNC Asheville ended its narrow loss at Longwood shooting exactly 90 percent (9-of-10). UNC Asheville finished its game at Vanderbilt on Dec. 31, 2018, shooting 90.9 percent (10-of-11) and followed that up by shooting 90.5 percent (19-of-21) from the free throw line as a team against Winthrop on Jan. 5, 2019. UNC Asheville now has four games this season where they have shot 90 percent or better from the free throw line as a team. The Bulldogs are currently in the top-40 in the country in free throw percentage as a team.
Tight ballgame
In addition to the largest lead for either team being just six points, UNC Asheville and Longwood changed leads 11 times. The score was tied seven times. Longwood led for 19:17 overall, while the Bulldogs led for 15:15.
True Baker's Dozen
DeVon Baker has now scored in double figures in 13 of UNC Asheville's 16 games this season.
Quotable
"Longwood's one of the older teams in the league and I thought it was probably our best second half of the year in terms of trying to put two halves together," UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Mike Morrell said. "I thought they fought hard tonight and played to the point of exhaustion. It was another game where at the end of the game we have to try and get to the free throw line more. We also missed some open shots today. Overall, I thought it was a good effort from our players. We are past moral victories though and our guys are hungry to win and they were right on the doorstep tonight. We are getting better."
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next travel to Hampton, Va. for its first-ever meeting with new league foe Hampton. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.
UNC Asheville (2-14, 0-2 Big South Conference) opened the game by taking an 8-5 lead over the first just over four minutes. Donovan Gilmore collected four of UNC Asheville's first eight points in the game.
The Bulldogs would still lead by three at 15-12 after an LJ Thorpe mid-range jumper with 8:57 left in the opening half.
The two teams would keep trading baskets over the next few minutes with the Bulldogs up by two at 24-22 with under four left in the first half. The game would be tied at 27-all after a Coty Jude three-pointer with 2:22 left in the first stanza.
The Lancers (11-6, 1-1 Big South Conference) from there would close the half on an 8-2 run to take a 35-29 lead into intermission.
UNC Asheville finished the first half shooting 44 percent (11-of-25), while Longwood shot 45 percent (9-of-20) as a team. The Lancers made 13 free throws in the first half.
The second half opened with UNC Asheville scoring eight of the first 11 points in the half to pull within one at 38-37 with 16:30 remaining in the contest.
The Bulldogs would eventually take the lead a few minutes later after a Cress Worthy three-pointer with 9:02 left in the game gave Asheville a 51-50 advantage.
Longwood would go on to lead by as many as five at 61-56, but another Worthy triple and a Jeremy Peck layup off a beautifully executed play call by Mike Morrell and the UNC Asheville coaching staff had the Bulldogs down just one at 61-60 with 3:18 to play in the contest.
The Lancers would hold on from there for the narrow five-point win.
UNC Asheville finished the game shooting 40.4 percent (23-of-57) as a team. The Bulldogs shot 90 percent (9-of-10) from the free throw line in the game.
Longwood ended its win shooting 38.3 percent (18-of-47) as a team. The Lancers did a great deal of their damage at the free throw line where they were 22-of-27 (81.5 percent).
Three Bulldogs finished in double figures with Baker leading the way with 14 points to go along with a career-best six assists. He also had two rebounds and one steal.
Worthy had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He also had four boards.
The final Bulldog in double figures was Gilmore, who posted 10 points and five boards.Gimore was a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.
BULLDOG BITES
Taking Advantage at the Free Throw Line
For the third straight game, UNC Asheville finished its efforts shooting at or above 90 percent at the free throw line in its league road opener at Longwood. UNC Asheville ended its narrow loss at Longwood shooting exactly 90 percent (9-of-10). UNC Asheville finished its game at Vanderbilt on Dec. 31, 2018, shooting 90.9 percent (10-of-11) and followed that up by shooting 90.5 percent (19-of-21) from the free throw line as a team against Winthrop on Jan. 5, 2019. UNC Asheville now has four games this season where they have shot 90 percent or better from the free throw line as a team. The Bulldogs are currently in the top-40 in the country in free throw percentage as a team.
Tight ballgame
In addition to the largest lead for either team being just six points, UNC Asheville and Longwood changed leads 11 times. The score was tied seven times. Longwood led for 19:17 overall, while the Bulldogs led for 15:15.
True Baker's Dozen
DeVon Baker has now scored in double figures in 13 of UNC Asheville's 16 games this season.
Quotable
"Longwood's one of the older teams in the league and I thought it was probably our best second half of the year in terms of trying to put two halves together," UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Mike Morrell said. "I thought they fought hard tonight and played to the point of exhaustion. It was another game where at the end of the game we have to try and get to the free throw line more. We also missed some open shots today. Overall, I thought it was a good effort from our players. We are past moral victories though and our guys are hungry to win and they were right on the doorstep tonight. We are getting better."
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next travel to Hampton, Va. for its first-ever meeting with new league foe Hampton. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.
Team Stats
AVL
LWU
FG%
.404
.383
3FG%
.206
.360
FT%
.900
.815
RB
33
34
TO
12
13
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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