University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Men’s basketball visits Gardner-Webb Tuesday and Wednesday
01.18.2021 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team hits the road on Tuesday, opening up a two-game series at Gardner-Webb. Both contests (Tuesday/Wednesday) are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
After a two-game sweep of Charleston Southern at home, Asheville is 7-6 overall and is 6-2 in Big South play. The 6-2 start in conference play is the program's best start since the 2015-16 squad began the season 5-0, and then 7-2 before winning the 2016 Big South Championship over Winthrop (77-68).
Home Sweet Home
After playing six consecutive road games (most since 1979-80), the Bulldogs returned home with a triumphant pair of victories. Thursday's 92-54 win over Charleston Southern was the second-largest margin of victory by UNC Asheville over a Big South opponent (Feb. 15, 2017 - 89-48 vs. Presbyterian), as the team knocked down 13 threes for the second time this season (High Point - 12/12/20). On Friday, the Bulldogs picked up their 100th win all-time in Kimmel when they defeated the Buccaneers 83-75, improving to 5-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 in Big South play at home so far this season.
TREY-jion
Redshirt junior Tajion Jones has been on an absolute tear this season, leading the Bulldogs in scoring nine times (18.2 ppg) so far. Against Charleston Southern, Jones averaged 22.5 points shooting 59.3 percent from the floor and 55.0 percent from 3-point range (11-for-20) to lead Asheville to a pair of wins over the Buccaneers. In game one, Jones scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, tying his career-high with seven made 3-pointers (7-for-10). On Friday, Jones scored 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting and knocked down four 3-pointers. Jones is third in the league in scoring and field-goal percentage (.486), ranking first in made 3-pointers (50) and 3-pointers per game (3.8). Through Sunday, Jones' 50 treys and average of 3.85 threes per game ranked fifth and third, respectively, in all of Division I. Jones has scored in double figures and knocked down at least two 3-pointers in all but one game this season, totaling 20 or more points five times.
Scouting Gardner-Webb
The Runnin' Bulldogs are 3-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play, most recently dropping two games at Winthrop. Gardner-Webb has three scorers averaging double figures in Lance Terry (15.5 ppg), Jaheam Cornwall (13.3 ppg) and Jacob Falko (11.9 ppg). When Gardner-Webb gets to the line, they are a league-best 72.2 percent from the free throw stripe. The matchup down low should be pivotal, as the two sides rank second and third, respectively in blocked shots per game (Asheville 4.8, GWU 4.7).
Series History
The Runnin' Bulldogs have the edge all-time in the series, winning 33 of 53 matchups. Gardner-Webb has been dominant in recent years, winning fuve straight with the two sides squaring off in the 2020 Big South Tournament. DeVon Baker led Asheville with 18 points in last March's matchup (72-62), but the Bulldogs got zero points from their bench. Jaheam Cornwall, who is second on the team in scoring this season, had 16 points in that contest as Gardner-Webb got 34 points in the paint. Asheville's last win in the series came on January 24, 2018, when it topped the Runnin' Bulldogs 65-60 in Kimmel Arena. The last win at Gardner-Webb came on February 9, 2015 (92-89).
How to Follow
In addition to watching the games on ESPN+ (Phil Constantino, Jerry Dunn), Brian Hall and Mike Gore will have the radio call. Both Tuesday and Wednesday can be heard on 570 WNNC.
