Bulldogs Open 2019-20 Campaign at Tennessee

GAME NOTES | at Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2019-20 version of the UNC Asheville men's basketball team will take the floor for the first time this season when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on Tennessee in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 5.

The Bulldogs enter the season led by sophomore guard DeVon Baker, who earned recognition as a Preseason First-Team All-Big South selection at the league's media day, last Tuesday. Baker ranks fifth nationally among this season's sophomore class in scoring entering the year, as he put up 16.1 points last season to lead all Big South freshmen.

Head coach Mike Morrell will begin his second season at the helm of the program. The Bulldogs were selected to finish ninth in the Big South, as voted on by league coaches and media members, after finishing 10th a season ago.

It will be the 11th all-time meeting in the series, with Tennessee securing victories in the previous 10 matchups, though the last three matchups have been decided by seven points or fewer.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network +, and live stats will be available as well. Brian Hall and Mike Gore will be back on the radio call for the Bulldogs, and Tuesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio Asheville on 92.9 FM, 880 AM or 1400 AM, and can also be streamed HERE.

There also will be a FREE watch party for the game against the Volunteers, hosted by Highland Brewing Co., beginning at 6:30 p.m. and open to all.

Notably

Sophomore guard DeVon Baker earned recognition as one of the top five players in the Big South entering the 2019-20 season in a vote of league coaches and media members. Among returning players in the conference, Baker ranks second in points per game (16.1) and free throw percentage (.817), third in minutes per game (33.9) and fifth in assists per game (3.0) and steals per game (1.5).
The Bulldogs were one of the youngest teams in the country last season, as eight freshmen combined for 109 starts and 4,764 minutes. This season, 83.6 percent of last year's minutes return, including all eight freshmen returning for their second seasons.
Two of the last three times the Bulldogs and Volunteers have squared off, the Vols have escaped with four-point victories. In the most recent meeting, Nov. 13, 2015, the Vols won 82-78, and in 2011, UT won 72-68. Sandwiched in between, Tennessee won a seven-point game, 75-68, in 2012.
Redshirt sophomore Tajion Jones and freshman Trent Stephney will be returning home when they play in Knoxville. Jones hails from nearby Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge High School, while Stephney prepped at Bearden High School and was teammates with current Vol freshman Drew Pember.

Bulldogs Open 2019-20 Campaign at Tennessee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

DeVon Baker

Tajion Jones

Trent Stephney

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics