University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
4-6, 3-2
Hampton
5-7, 4-3
Hampton, Warren top Asheville 73-71
01.09.2021 | Men's Basketball
HAMPTON, Va. – Despite leading for over 32 minutes, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team couldn't overcome Davion Warren's 32-point, 15-rebound effort as the Pirates snuck out a 73-71 win at the Hampton Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon.
"We were the aggressors for the first three quarters of the game or so," said Asheville head coach Mike Morrell. "They (Hampton) were the aggressors for the last quarter of the game, and it came down to a one possession deal. We needed a stop and didn't get it."
The reigning player of the week and current leader in scoring average for the Big South, Warren dished out five assists, had three blocks and two steals, knocking down two free throws with one second to play to lift Hampton to the victory.
Asheville's record drops to 4-6 overall, suffering just its second conference loss of the season (3-2 Big South). Hampton, meanwhile, improves to 5-7 on the season and 4-3 in Big South play.
Tajion Jones led Asheville with 17 points, while Evan Clayborne was a beast in the paint, totaling 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds in the process. LJ Thorpe scored 15 points, grabbed five boards and dished out five assists, while Coty Jude totaled 10 points in the loss. Asheville knocked down just six 3-pointers (6-for-24), but won the turnover battle 15-12.
What's Next
Asheville and Hampton cap off their series finale on Sunday, capping off its six-game road swing with a 1 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
"We have to try to find a way to be the fresher team tomorrow and be the aggressor," Morrell said of Sunday's rematch.
How it Happened
Clayborne wasted no time getting going, slamming home a lob from Thorpe to get the Bulldogs on the board. Lavar Batts, Jr. and Jones each knocked down 3-pointers, as Asheville pulled ahead 22-13. Hampton worked its way back, taking a 27-26 lead just past the midway point of the first. Trent Stephney, Coty Jude, Jamon Battle and Thorpe all scored inside, and three free throws from Jones gave Asheville a 36-32 advantage late in the first. Thorpe would close out the half in strong fashion, converting a 3-point play and a putback just before the buzzer to send the Bulldogs to the locker room with a 43-36 lead.
Thorpe opened up the second with a bucket in the lane, and Jones dished to Clayborne as the Dayton native pushed the lead to 10 with another slam. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 13 with just four minutes into the second, but a 9-0 run by the Pirates cut the deficit to four. After Thorpe got to the free throw line to break the scoring drought, Jude knocked down a 3-pointer as Asheville looked to take back the momentum leading 64-59.
Warren and the Pirates answered, taking a 65-64 lead with just under six minutes to play. Thorpe knocked down two more free throws and Stephney found the junior in the paint as Asheville pulled ahead 69-67. After Hampton took a two-point lead, Battle scored in traffic to knot the game up at 71-71 with two minutes remaining. After each team missed opportunities, Warren drove to the rim and got a foul called, sending him to the line where he put the Pirates ahead for good.
Today's Takeaways
· Third loss this season by three points or less (Western Carolina, Chattanooga)
· Bulldogs create nine or more steals for the fourth time this season
· Jones leads the Bulldogs in scoring for the fourth straight game (seventh overall)
