University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-9, 9-5BSC
Winthrop
16-1, 13-1BSC
Asheville tops Winthrop 57-55 to hand Eagles first loss of season
01.29.2021 | Men's Basketball
Bulldogs’ first win at Winthrop since 2011
"I thought all of our guys really stuck with it, especially when things weren't going our way midway through the second," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell. "Winthrop's won however many games in a row for a reason. Guys like Trent (Stephney) and LJ (Thorpe) were just able to do what they really do well. They did what we see every day in practice and helped us win."
The victory marks the first time Asheville has won at Winthrop since December 31, 2011 (73-68). The last time overall that the Bulldogs topped the Eagles was February 22, 2018 in Kimmel Arena (89-75) as Asheville clinched a share of the regular-season title that year. Prior to tonight, the Bulldogs had not won a game in which they scored less than 76 points.
"I don't know that our guys were aware of that particular stat," Morrell said of Asheville garnering its first road win in the series since 2011. "I think our guys have a great respect and have a great understanding for the people that came before them at UNC Asheville that made this rivalry a great rivalry. Winthrop demands that type of respect because of how good they are. There's a difference between respect and fear and I thought our guys did a great job of not fearing yet tremendously respecting them."
With the win, Asheville improves to 10-9 overall and a strong 9-5 in Big South play. Winthrop, who is ranked No. 2 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll, drops to 16-1 overall and 13-1 in conference play.
And there it is, Asheville tops Winthrop 57-55!! pic.twitter.com/JFiFgHJjHs
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 30, 2021
Holding Winthrop to just 15.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 31.9 percent shooting overall, Asheville swatted a season-high nine shots while grabbing 35 rebounds and shooting 47.6 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs, who had eight scorers in the game, were led by Trent Stephney's 13 and LJ Thorpe's 12 points. The duo combined for five assists and went 8-for-9 from the line to help close out the win.
"I thought we did a really good job of contesting their threes. I thought we did a good job of guarding the ball and not letting them get to the paint too much because they do a great job of getting the ball to the paint and kicking it out and I thought we did a good job of limiting that," Morrell said.
How it Happened
Evan Clayborne had it going early, putting up six points before Jones added a trey and a bucket inside to give Asheville an 18-16 lead at the nine-minute mark. Luke Lawson stepped in and drilled a three and Lavar Batts, Jr. scored in the lane as Asheville pulled ahead by five. Winthrop closed the gap as time winded down, but the Bulldogs took a 26-25 lead into the break.
Stephney opened up the second with a 3-pointer and six straight points from Thorpe pushed the Asheville lead to 35-29 early in the half. The Eagles climbed back, tying the game at 38-38 with just over 14 minutes remaining. Coty Jude knocked down a three to give the Bulldogs the lead, but Winthrop's Chandler Vaudrin responded in the paint and at the line to give the Eagles a 49-43 lead.
With 3:41 to play, Asheville trailed by seven but Jamon Battle scored in the paint twice and Stephney registered a steal and layup to cut the deficit to one (54-53) with two minutes to play. Thorpe would stay aggressive, getting to the line twice and knocking down all four free throws put the Bulldogs in front 57-54.
"That's a game that Doc can really excel in," Morrell said of Battle. "It's fast, it's gritty, it's tough and that's what he's all about. Really proud of him. We don't win that game without him. He's a kid who always does whatever the team needs. I'm proud of all of our guys, but definitely him."
With just under 10 seconds to play, Winthrop would get the ball back and Asheville elected to foul the Eagles before allowing a 3-point attempt. Russell Jones Jr. made the first free throw but missed the second, and on the ensuing scrum Winthrop would grab the rebound and get another chance to tie the game at the line.
Kelton Talford, who drew the foul, got injured on the play and the Bulldogs selected Jamal King to shoot the free throws in his absence. King, who hadn't shot a free throw in the last five minutes of a game this season, missed both free throws and Winthrop could not get another clean shot off as Asheville knocked off the previously unbeaten Eagles 57-55.
"It came down to the last few minutes and against those guys, that's all you can hope for," said Morrell. "We did a good job of guarding the bounce and guarding the dribble. They do such a good job offensive rebounding, but late in the game we secured some rebounds and gave ourselves a chance."
What's Next
The Bulldogs return home for a pair of Big South contests, hosting Campbell on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPNU. On Friday, the two sides will tip off at 5:00 p.m. from Kimmel Arena.
"It was really fun. In a year like this year you really have to try to embrace and enjoy those moments because of the sacrifices everyone is making to help us travel, get games and just run our program," Morrell said of the excitement after the game. "Anyone who loves UNC Asheville would have enjoyed seeing that locker room atmosphere. I'm just really happy for those guys."
- First win at Winthrop since December 31, 2011 (73-68)
- First win over Winthrop since February 22, 2018 (89-75)
- First time this season Asheville has scored less than 76 points in a win and only the third time the Bulldogs failed to reach 60 points in 2020-21
- Friday marked the 6th game in 11 days for Asheville
