University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Chattanooga
Asheville travels to Chattanooga for Wednesday matchup
12.15.2020 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team will hit the road for the first time this season on Wednesday, traveling to Chattanooga to face the Mocs. Tip-off is 7 p.m. and the game can be viewed on ESPN+.
Following an 0-2 start to the season, Asheville has won three straight, including two conference wins against High Point last weekend. The win by the Bulldogs was the third in a row over the Panthers, making the sides 3-3 in their last six matchups.
It's Good to be Back
After missing the first two games of the season, Coty Jude's return to the lineup has helped spark the Bulldogs' offense, averaging 15 points in two Big South victories over High Point, including  14 crucial points in the second half and overtime of Sunday's 90-84 nail-biter. Jude's versatility created opportunities at the free throw line, where he was a perfect 5-for-5 in overtime to help close the game out. With Jude's return, Asheville now has six players averaging 9.8 points per game or better.
Juice from the Juniors
After being the 13th-youngest team (KenPom) a season ago, the Bulldogs have seven juniors on their 2020-21 squad. Tajion Jones, LJ Thorpe and Coty Jude rank 1-2-3 in scoring, with Lavar Batts, Jr. and Luke Lawson providing a lift off the bench. Against High Point, Batts dished out eight assists to go along with seven steals, scoring nine points down the stretch in Sunday's overtime victory. Jones' consistency has been key this season, ranking second among Big South performers with 18.8 points per game, shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from 3-point range. Thorpe, meanwhile, has turned it on as of late, combining for 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against High Point.
Block PartyÂ
Bolstered by the arrival of Evan Clayborne, Asheville ranks in the top 30 in the NCAA for total blocks (23) and blocks per game (5.8). Clayborne, who swatted a pair on Sunday, ranks third in the Big South with nine on the season. As a unit, Asheville's 23 blocks pace Big South squads, with Hampton and USC Upstate tying for second in the conference with 17 total blocks. Jones, Lawson and Jamon Battle have each totaled five on the season, and Thorpe has swatted three thus far.
Scouting Chattanooga
The Mocs are an impressive 6-0 on the season, most recently topping North Georgia 81-63 on Saturday. Stefan Kenic and Malachi Smith, who are averaging 15.7 and 14.3 points per game, respectively, combined for 42 points in the win. A 6-foot-4 guard, Smith has been dominant on the glass, averaging 11.5 rebounds per game and registering a Division I best five double-doubles already. Defensively, Chattanooga ranks in the top 40 in the nation in steals, totaling 48 (8.0 per game), with five players swiping eight or more through six games. Offensively, the Mocs do a good job of sharing the ball, dishing out 78 assists led by Smith (23), Kenic (13), and A.J. Caldwell (15).
Series HistoryÂ
Chattanooga has owned the series, winning all seven matchups over the years. Last season, the two sides met for the first time since 1997-98 with the Mocs edging out the Bulldogs 68-64. Batts, Jr. led Asheville with 17 points as Asheville mounted a second-half rally that came up just short. Asheville will look to get more from its bench this year, with its reserves being outscored 18-4 in last year's contest.
How to Follow
Wednesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available here.Â
GAME NOTES
