University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
8-6, 7-2BSC
Gardner-Webb
3-9, 2-5BSC
Asheville tops Gardner-Webb on road for first time since 2015
01.19.2021 | Men's Basketball
Win improves Bulldogs’ record to 7-2 in conference
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – For the first time in nearly six years, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team traveled to Gardner-Webb and knocked off the Runnin' Bulldogs, winning 79-75 in Paul Porter Arena on Tuesday night.
"I'm proud of us to be able to come on the road and earn a really hard-fought win," said Asheville head coach Mike Morrell. "We've not beaten Gardner-Webb since I've been here, so that was big for our guys."
LJ Thorpe led all scorers with a season-high 21 points, totaling 14 points in the second half. Evan Clayborne was the man down low, grabbing his first double-double in an Asheville uniform with 11 points, 11 rebounds to go with three blocks and two assists. Tajion Jones, who is just five points shy of 1,000 for his career, totaled 18 while Trent Stephney added 10 points.
"He was awesome," said Morrell of Clayborne. "He had some really good flashes to the rim and we needed it because of their front line. Evan was terrific tonight."
As a team, the Bulldogs outrebounded Gardner-Webb 38-29, shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from 3-point range (7-for-17). The win, which improves Asheville's record to 8-6 (7-2 Big South), marks the first time this group of players has defeated Gardner-Webb, snapping a five-game losing streak in the series. The last win at Paul Porter Arena came on February 9, 2015 when Asheville edged out the Runnin' Bulldogs 92-89. Gardner-Webb now falls to 3-9 overall and 2-5 in Big South play.
The Rundown
Lavar Batts, Jr. got Asheville on the board as the two sides traded buckets early. DeVon Baker and Thorpe scored buckets in the paint as Asheville pulled in front 17-12 eight minutes into the game. Gardner-Webb battled back and knotted the game up at 27-27 at the 4:17 mark. Asheville got buckets in the paint from Thorpe, Baker and Stephney to take a 38-36 lead into half.
Thorpe wasted no time getting going in the second, scoring a spinning layup just seconds into the half. Jamon Battle scored four points down low and Coty Jude knocked down a trey as the Bulldogs kept the advantage to four. Asheville slowly established some breathing room, with a Thorpe 3-pointer extending the lead to nine with 6:27 remaining.
Gardner-Webb responded, cutting the deficit to three after Ludovic Dufeal scored down low. Jaheam Cornwall knocked down a deep three with 28 seconds remaining (74-70), but free throws from Thorpe and Jones closed out the game for Asheville.
What's Next
Asheville and Gardner-Webb return to the court on Wednesday, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. from Boiling Springs.
"They've got a really good team," Morrell said of Gardner-Webb. "Gotta get some rest, get back on the bus and try and get it done tomorrow."
Today's Takeaways
- 7-2 record in Big South play is best start since 2015-16
- First win at Gardner-Webb since February 9, 2015 (92-89)
- First win in the series since January 24, 2018 (65-60)
- Season-high 21 points for LJ Thorpe
