University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, February 20
Radford, VA
9 p.m.
UNC Asheville
12-14 (6-9)
64
at
79
Radford
18-9 (13-2)
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
31
33
64
Radford
31
48
79
Photo by: Mark Godin
Bulldogs Fall in Road Game Against Radford
02.21.2020 | Men's Basketball
RADFORD, Va. – A hot start by Radford to begin the second half proved to be the difference as UNC Asheville's men's basketball team fell, 79-64, inside the Dedmon Center, Thursday night.
All five starters scored in double-figures for the Bulldogs, led by 15 points from Lavar Batts, Jr. on 7-of-11 shooting, to go along with four assists and two steals. Coty Jude finished with 12 points, while DeVon Baker, LJ Thorpe and Tajion Jones each scored 11. Thorpe and Jones each pulled down six rebounds, including two apiece on the offensive end.
The Bulldogs (12-14, 6-9 Big South) jumped out to a quick lead in the first half, going ahead by as many as 10 points. Thorpe secured an offensive rebound and found a cutting Jude for an easy layup to put the Dogs up 15-5 at the 11:53 mark.
Asheville came out of the gates with intensity on the defensive end, at one point forcing the Highlanders (18-9, 13-2 Big South) into turnovers on three straight possessions. The Bulldogs forced eight first-half turnovers against Radford, who entered the game ranked 13th in the country averaging fewer than 11 turnovers per game.
In the second 10 minutes off the first half, Radford clawed its way back, eventually taking the lead, 20-19, on a 3-pointer with just more than five minutes remaining. The Highlanders would push the lead to 28-23 after a layup by Carlik Jones with 1:58 left in the frame.
From there, the Bulldogs closed out the half on an 8-3 run, ignited by an acrobatic layup from Batts, throwing the ball over his shoulder as he drew a foul. He converted the free throw to make it a two-point game, and Thorpe tied it at 28 apiece with a layup. Tajion Jones drilled a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to put the Bulldogs up three, but Carlik Jones banked in a three at the buzzer to send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 31 apiece.
Coming back from the halftime break, Radford came out on fire, opening the second stanza with a 15-2 run to open up a 13-point advantage, 46-33, at the 15:37 mark.
The Bulldogs would cut the lead to single digits a number of times, and the lead wavered between double-digits and high single digits. Trailing 58-47, Batts stole the ball and jump started a fast-break, converting on another highlight-reel finish.
Batts would score on two more strong drives to the rim, ripping off six straight points to narrow the lead to 59-52. After a two-point bucket by the Highlanders, Jude nailed a three to bring the deficit to six points with 5:35 remaining, but Radford scored the next six points to push the lead back to 12. Radford would hold off any more Bulldog rally attempts and the lead stayed double-digits the rest of the way.
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NOTABLY
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs close out their regular-season home schedule when they take on Presbyterian as part of a Bulldogs basketball Homecoming doubleheader, Saturday. Tipoff of the game, presented by Biltmore Farms Hotels, is set for 4:30 p.m.
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All five starters scored in double-figures for the Bulldogs, led by 15 points from Lavar Batts, Jr. on 7-of-11 shooting, to go along with four assists and two steals. Coty Jude finished with 12 points, while DeVon Baker, LJ Thorpe and Tajion Jones each scored 11. Thorpe and Jones each pulled down six rebounds, including two apiece on the offensive end.
The Bulldogs (12-14, 6-9 Big South) jumped out to a quick lead in the first half, going ahead by as many as 10 points. Thorpe secured an offensive rebound and found a cutting Jude for an easy layup to put the Dogs up 15-5 at the 11:53 mark.
Asheville came out of the gates with intensity on the defensive end, at one point forcing the Highlanders (18-9, 13-2 Big South) into turnovers on three straight possessions. The Bulldogs forced eight first-half turnovers against Radford, who entered the game ranked 13th in the country averaging fewer than 11 turnovers per game.
In the second 10 minutes off the first half, Radford clawed its way back, eventually taking the lead, 20-19, on a 3-pointer with just more than five minutes remaining. The Highlanders would push the lead to 28-23 after a layup by Carlik Jones with 1:58 left in the frame.
From there, the Bulldogs closed out the half on an 8-3 run, ignited by an acrobatic layup from Batts, throwing the ball over his shoulder as he drew a foul. He converted the free throw to make it a two-point game, and Thorpe tied it at 28 apiece with a layup. Tajion Jones drilled a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to put the Bulldogs up three, but Carlik Jones banked in a three at the buzzer to send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 31 apiece.
Coming back from the halftime break, Radford came out on fire, opening the second stanza with a 15-2 run to open up a 13-point advantage, 46-33, at the 15:37 mark.
The Bulldogs would cut the lead to single digits a number of times, and the lead wavered between double-digits and high single digits. Trailing 58-47, Batts stole the ball and jump started a fast-break, converting on another highlight-reel finish.
Batts would score on two more strong drives to the rim, ripping off six straight points to narrow the lead to 59-52. After a two-point bucket by the Highlanders, Jude nailed a three to bring the deficit to six points with 5:35 remaining, but Radford scored the next six points to push the lead back to 12. Radford would hold off any more Bulldog rally attempts and the lead stayed double-digits the rest of the way.
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NOTABLY
- All five starters scored in double figures for the sixth time this season (Lavar Batts, Jr., 15; Coty Jude, 12; Tajion Jones, 11; LJ Thorpe, 11; DeVon Baker, 11). The Bulldogs are now 4-2 in those games.
- Batts led the team with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. It is the third time this season he's led the team in scoring.
- Batts also led the squad with four assists, the 13th time this season he's led the team in helpers.
- Baker and Thorpe recorded their team-leading 22nd double-digit scoring games.
- Thorpe and Jones led with six rebounds apiece. It is the 16th time this season and 20th of his career Thorpe has been the leading rebounder.
- Asheville and Radford went into halftime tied at 31 apiece, the first time this season the Bulldogs were tied with their opponent at the half.
- Each team finished the game with 12 turnovers. The Bulldogs have turned the ball over more than their opponent in only three of 26 games this season.
- The Bulldogs led in fast-break points in the game, 14-to-7.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs close out their regular-season home schedule when they take on Presbyterian as part of a Bulldogs basketball Homecoming doubleheader, Saturday. Tipoff of the game, presented by Biltmore Farms Hotels, is set for 4:30 p.m.
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Team Stats
AVL
RAD
FG%
.481
.549
3FG%
.292
.529
FT%
.625
.636
RB
26
31
TO
12
12
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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