University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, February 6
Asheville, NC
6 p.m.
UNC Asheville
10-12,4-7Big So
84
vs
71
USC Upstate
10-14,5-6Big So
1
2
F
USC Upstate
36
35
71
UNC Asheville
39
45
84
Photo by: Mark Godin
Baker’s 30 Points Help Bulldogs Stifle Spartans
02.06.2020 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE – Despite rainy and dreary conditions outside, UNC Asheville's men's basketball team made the inside of Kimmel Arena a fun environment Thursday night, taking down USC Upstate, 84-71, in Big South Conference action.
The victory halted a three-game skid for the Bulldogs (10-12, 4-7 Big South), and gave the young squad its 10th win of the season.
DeVon Baker put on a show for those in attendance, scoring 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field – his first 30-point outing since dropping 37 at home against UT Martin, December 14.
Baker had help though, as the other four starters all chipped in with double-figure scoring as well. Lavar Batts, Jr. scored 12 points on a 5-of-8 shooting night, while LJ Thorpe and Tajion Jones each added 11, with Jones draining 3-of-4 from long distance. Coty Jude scored 10 points to round out the Bulldogs in double-digits.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead, going ahead 10-3 at the first media timeout at the 16-minute mark. Baker had five of the first 10 points, establishing himself early as the go-to scorer on the night.
The Spartans (10-14, 5-6 Big South), responded after the break, taking over the lead for the first time, 13-12, with 11:48 left in the half. The lead would change six more times in the first stanza.
A layup by Jeremy Peck with just under a minute remaining tied the score at 36 apiece, and a clutch 3-pointer by Jude just before the buzzer sent the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 39-36 advantage.
The Spartans made their first two shots of the second half to reclaim the lead, 41-39, but two free throws followed by a layup from Thorpe at the 17:26 mark gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish.
It remained a single-digit lead past the 10-minute mark, but a layup by Baker with 9:51 remaining made it a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game. The lead got as high as 14 points after Baker sunk another layup with 4:42 remaining, and the Bulldogs would go on to outscore USC Upstate, 45-35, in the second half to claim the 13-point victory
NOTABLY
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs have Saturday off and will resume play with a Monday night trip to Hampton. The rematch from a game earlier this season is set to tip at 7 p.m.
FROM THE MIND OF MORRELL
"I really appreciate everyone who came out tonight – I know the weather was wet and rough – but I thought the crowd really helped us, especially there in the second half. I thought our guys really competed. I know they were really disappointed in the result that we got in Spartanburg a week-and-a-half or so ago, so it was really good to get a win on our home floor. We're starting to get a little rivalry with USC Upstate as close as they are, and so it was really good for our guys. I thought DeVon (Baker) and Lavar (Batts) were terrific tonight. I thought Coty Jude and Tajion (Jones) really helped us on the boards. It was just a great team win for us, especially getting off that three-game slide."
– Head Coach Mike Morrell
The victory halted a three-game skid for the Bulldogs (10-12, 4-7 Big South), and gave the young squad its 10th win of the season.
DeVon Baker put on a show for those in attendance, scoring 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field – his first 30-point outing since dropping 37 at home against UT Martin, December 14.
Baker had help though, as the other four starters all chipped in with double-figure scoring as well. Lavar Batts, Jr. scored 12 points on a 5-of-8 shooting night, while LJ Thorpe and Tajion Jones each added 11, with Jones draining 3-of-4 from long distance. Coty Jude scored 10 points to round out the Bulldogs in double-digits.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead, going ahead 10-3 at the first media timeout at the 16-minute mark. Baker had five of the first 10 points, establishing himself early as the go-to scorer on the night.
The Spartans (10-14, 5-6 Big South), responded after the break, taking over the lead for the first time, 13-12, with 11:48 left in the half. The lead would change six more times in the first stanza.
A layup by Jeremy Peck with just under a minute remaining tied the score at 36 apiece, and a clutch 3-pointer by Jude just before the buzzer sent the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 39-36 advantage.
The Spartans made their first two shots of the second half to reclaim the lead, 41-39, but two free throws followed by a layup from Thorpe at the 17:26 mark gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish.
It remained a single-digit lead past the 10-minute mark, but a layup by Baker with 9:51 remaining made it a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game. The lead got as high as 14 points after Baker sunk another layup with 4:42 remaining, and the Bulldogs would go on to outscore USC Upstate, 45-35, in the second half to claim the 13-point victory
NOTABLY
- Sophomore DeVon Baker scored 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor. It is his third-career 30-point game and second of the season, after scoring 37 against UT Martin, December 14.
- It is the fourth game this season Baker has eclipsed the 20-point mark, and it is the first time he has done so in conference play this season.
- It is the 30th time in his career Baker has led the team in scoring.
- All five starters scored in double-figures (Baker, 30; Lavar Batts, Jr., 12; Tajion Jones, 11; LJ Thorpe, 11; Coty Jude, 10) for the fifth time this season and first since they did so in the conference opener at Presbyterian, January 2. The Bulldogs are now 4-1 in those games.
- The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the floor (29-of-58), marking the fourth time this season they have shot 50 percent or better. They are 4-0 in those games.
- The Bulldogs forced 13 turnovers by USC Upstate while only turning it over 10 times themselves. They have turned the ball over more than their opponent in only two of 22 games so far this season.
- Sophomore Coty Jude tied his career-high with nine rebounds, matching the nine he secured against UT Martin, December 14. It's the fourth time this season and seventh game in his career he's led the team in rebounding.
- As a team, the Bulldogs out-rebounded USC Upstate, 36-32. They are now 6-2 on the season when they outrebound their opponent.
- Redshirt sophomore Lavar Batts, Jr. led the Bulldogs with four assists, his team-best 10th game to lead the club in assists.
- Redshirt junior Jeremy Peck scored a season-high five points and logged a season-high two assists off the bench.
- The Bulldogs led in points in the paint (40-to-36), second chance points (10-to-7) and fast break points (15-to-13)
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs have Saturday off and will resume play with a Monday night trip to Hampton. The rematch from a game earlier this season is set to tip at 7 p.m.
FROM THE MIND OF MORRELL
"I really appreciate everyone who came out tonight – I know the weather was wet and rough – but I thought the crowd really helped us, especially there in the second half. I thought our guys really competed. I know they were really disappointed in the result that we got in Spartanburg a week-and-a-half or so ago, so it was really good to get a win on our home floor. We're starting to get a little rivalry with USC Upstate as close as they are, and so it was really good for our guys. I thought DeVon (Baker) and Lavar (Batts) were terrific tonight. I thought Coty Jude and Tajion (Jones) really helped us on the boards. It was just a great team win for us, especially getting off that three-game slide."
– Head Coach Mike Morrell
Team Stats
USCU
AVL
FG%
.453
.500
3FG%
.188
.280
FT%
.690
.679
RB
32
36
TO
13
10
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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