University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Tuesday, December 3
Charlotte, NC
7 p.m.
UNC Asheville
4-2
83
at
75
Charlotte
3-4
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
34
49
83
Charlotte
30
45
75
Photo by: Mark Godin
Bulldogs Reign in Queen City; Defeat 49ers on the Road
12.03.2019 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE – Six games into the 2019-20 season, UNC Asheville's men's basketball team has already equaled its win total from a season ago after downing Charlotte, 83-75, Tuesday night in Halton Arena.
Those freshmen-laden Bulldogs from a season ago are now battle-tested veterans, and their experience is beginning to shine through, as they ended a nine-game losing streak to the 49ers and picked up their second road victory of the season.
All five starters scored in double figures for the second game in a row, led by 21 points and six rebounds from Tajion Jones. It's the third 20-point game already this season for Jones, equaling the number of 20-point games he had all of last season.
Coty Jude finished with 16 points – including 11 in the second half – while DeVon Baker added 15, Lavar Batts, Jr. dropped in 12 and LJ Thorpe scored 11 to go along with a career-high nine rebounds.
Freshman Trent Stephney was also a difference-maker, recording career highs with six assists and four steals without turning the ball over.
It was a slow start to the first half for both teams, as Charlotte held an 8-6 lead at the under-12 media timeout, but Jones would be the catalyst for a strong second 10 minutes of the half, leading the team with 15 points in the first, helping the Bulldogs to a 34-30 lead going into the locker room.
The Bulldogs began to find their groove midway through the first half, going on an 11-1 run from the end of the second media timeout. With 10:36 remaining Jones converted on an and-one on the offensive end, and the Dogs forced a turnover on a shot clock violation on the 49ers' ensuing possession. Stephney found Cress Worthy for a three, which put the Bulldogs up by eight, 17-9, and prompted a timeout from the 49ers.
Charlotte would narrow the gap, 22-21, but Jones drained a three-pointer and Stephney followed with a steal at midcourt and a dish to Jones for a fastbreak layup to push the lead back up to six with 5:15 remaining in the first.
The Bulldogs exploded out of the gate in the second half, opening with an 8-0 run in the first 2:30, led by four points from Thorpe and a stifling defensive effort that forced the 49ers into turnovers on four straight possessions.
At the under-16 media timeout, Asheville held a 12-point lead, 44-32, but as they did in the first half, the 49ers battled back, using a 16-0 run to take the lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Coty Jude stopped the run and then tied the game at 50 apiece.
Jude hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 4:36 remaining to put the Bulldogs ahead by 11, 67-56. The Bulldogs would bump the lead back up to 11 with a layup from Jones with 2:14 remaining in the game. The 49ers continued to show fight, but the Bulldogs were able to sink their free throws down the stretch and keep the home team at arm's length.
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NOTABLY
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return to the road and head to Cullowhee to take on Western Carolina in the Mountain Rivalry, 4 p.m., Saturday.
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FROM THE MIND OF MORRELL
"We were able to go on the road and find a way to get a win against a good team that's beaten Wake Forest and Davidson here. They're a very well-coached team, and they're a team that plays very opposite of how we play. I'm just really proud of our guys growth from last year, and continuing to stay motivated with a chip on their shoulder. I just thought we had some terrific performances individually, and as a team, we stayed connected. We were up 12 points, down four, back up 10, and then we were able to make some free throws to find a way to win the game. I'm just so proud of our guys. They're so happy. They needed this, and the fruits of their labor paid off tonight." – Head Coach Mike Morrell
Those freshmen-laden Bulldogs from a season ago are now battle-tested veterans, and their experience is beginning to shine through, as they ended a nine-game losing streak to the 49ers and picked up their second road victory of the season.
All five starters scored in double figures for the second game in a row, led by 21 points and six rebounds from Tajion Jones. It's the third 20-point game already this season for Jones, equaling the number of 20-point games he had all of last season.
Coty Jude finished with 16 points – including 11 in the second half – while DeVon Baker added 15, Lavar Batts, Jr. dropped in 12 and LJ Thorpe scored 11 to go along with a career-high nine rebounds.
Freshman Trent Stephney was also a difference-maker, recording career highs with six assists and four steals without turning the ball over.
It was a slow start to the first half for both teams, as Charlotte held an 8-6 lead at the under-12 media timeout, but Jones would be the catalyst for a strong second 10 minutes of the half, leading the team with 15 points in the first, helping the Bulldogs to a 34-30 lead going into the locker room.
The Bulldogs began to find their groove midway through the first half, going on an 11-1 run from the end of the second media timeout. With 10:36 remaining Jones converted on an and-one on the offensive end, and the Dogs forced a turnover on a shot clock violation on the 49ers' ensuing possession. Stephney found Cress Worthy for a three, which put the Bulldogs up by eight, 17-9, and prompted a timeout from the 49ers.
Charlotte would narrow the gap, 22-21, but Jones drained a three-pointer and Stephney followed with a steal at midcourt and a dish to Jones for a fastbreak layup to push the lead back up to six with 5:15 remaining in the first.
The Bulldogs exploded out of the gate in the second half, opening with an 8-0 run in the first 2:30, led by four points from Thorpe and a stifling defensive effort that forced the 49ers into turnovers on four straight possessions.
At the under-16 media timeout, Asheville held a 12-point lead, 44-32, but as they did in the first half, the 49ers battled back, using a 16-0 run to take the lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Coty Jude stopped the run and then tied the game at 50 apiece.
Jude hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 4:36 remaining to put the Bulldogs ahead by 11, 67-56. The Bulldogs would bump the lead back up to 11 with a layup from Jones with 2:14 remaining in the game. The 49ers continued to show fight, but the Bulldogs were able to sink their free throws down the stretch and keep the home team at arm's length.
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NOTABLY
- With the victory against Charlotte, the Bulldogs picked up their fourth win of the season, December 3, 2019. The team won four games all of last season and didn't win its fourth game last season until February 13, 2019.
- The victory against Charlotte also ended a nine-game losing streak to the 49ers. The Bulldogs picked up their first victory in the series since November 28, 1983.
- Through six games this season, the Bulldogs have not turned the ball over more than their opponent in any game. The Dogs forced the 49ers into 22 turnovers, while turning it over 17 times themselves. Half of the 49ers' turnovers were caused by Bulldog steals.
- For the second straight game, all five starters scored in double figures (Tajion Jones, 21; Coty Jude, 16; DeVon Baker, 15; Lavar Batts, Jr., 12; LJ Thorpe, 11). It is the first time five Bulldogs have scored in double digits in a game against a Division I opponent since five did so in the team's double-overtime loss to USC in the NIT, March 13, 2018.
- For the third game this season, Tajion Jones led the team in scoring, finishing with 21 points. It is his third 20-point game of the season and sixth of his career.
- Jones also finished with a season-high six rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
- Coty Jude scored a season-best 16 points, matching his season high with four made 3-pointers.
- LJ Thorpe set his career high with nine rebounds in the game and had a season-high four assists.
- Trent Stephney led the team with a career-best six assists and a career-high four steals.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return to the road and head to Cullowhee to take on Western Carolina in the Mountain Rivalry, 4 p.m., Saturday.
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FROM THE MIND OF MORRELL
"We were able to go on the road and find a way to get a win against a good team that's beaten Wake Forest and Davidson here. They're a very well-coached team, and they're a team that plays very opposite of how we play. I'm just really proud of our guys growth from last year, and continuing to stay motivated with a chip on their shoulder. I just thought we had some terrific performances individually, and as a team, we stayed connected. We were up 12 points, down four, back up 10, and then we were able to make some free throws to find a way to win the game. I'm just so proud of our guys. They're so happy. They needed this, and the fruits of their labor paid off tonight." – Head Coach Mike Morrell
Team Stats
AVL
CLT
FG%
.500
.538
3FG%
.375
.333
FT%
.636
.556
RB
34
30
TO
17
22
STL
11
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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