University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-2,0-0Big South
Tennessee Tech
1-3,0-0OVC
Men’s basketball mounts 12-0 run to defeat Tennessee Tech 61-55
11.18.2021 | Men's Basketball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team traveled back to Chattanooga to wrap up play in the Coke Zero Sugar Classic multi-team event on Thursday evening, scoring 12 unanswered in the last four minutes to defeat Tennessee Tech 61-55 at McKenzie Arena.
It was a game of runs, as the Bulldogs closed the first half scoring 15 of the last 19 points to hold a 10-advantage at the break. After the Golden Eagles charged back to take a 55-49 lead with 4:32 to play, Asheville locked in, getting key buckets from Tajion Jones and Jamon Battle, sealing the game with two steals from Trent Stephney and leading-scorer Drew Pember (16 points).
"I'm not sure I've ever been a part of a 12-0 run to close a game like that, but we called a timeout late and switched up our ball-screen coverage and I thought guys bought into the adjustment and came up with two big steals," said head coach Mike Morrell. "We held them to 0-for-21 from 3-point range and did a really good job of contesting guys when we needed to contest so I'm proud of that."
Pember had a career night in the win, not only scoring a personal-best 16 points, but swatting seven shots in the process, becoming the first Bulldog to block more than five shots since 2018 (Jonathan Baehre).
"I thought Drew really led the charge for us with his aggression," Morrell said of Pember. "Having seven blocks is a lot of blocks in 29 minutes. I just thought we were much better all-around on offense in terms of moving and cutting and that usually leads to points in the paint which it did tonight for our team."
A teammate of Pember's at Bearden High School, Stephney's nine points, four steals, three rebounds and two steals helped lift the Bulldogs to the win. The win moves Asheville's record to an even 2-2, dropping Tennessee Tech to 1-3 on the year.
The Game at a Glance
- Asheville finishes first half with 15-4 run, second with 12-0 run (last 4:32)
- Pember leads team with 16 points, 7 blocks (career highs), 7 rebounds, 2 steals
- Battle scores 8 in the second, totals 6 rebounds and 4 steals
- Bulldogs hold Golden Eagles to zero 3-pointers (0-21)
- 53 points from starters, 27 points off turnovers
- Quartet of Tennessee natives combine for 40 points (Pember, Jones, Stephney, Marable)
Stephney was feeling it early, scoring the first five points for the Bulldogs. Pember and BJ Marable would get into the mix, giving Asheville its first lead at the 13:37 mark. The teams would trade buckets as Tennessee Tech pulled ahead by one, but Asheville would close the half on a 15-4 run getting buckets from Luke Lawson, Jones, Pember and Stephney to go into the break up 34-24.
LJ Thorpe got things going in the second as the Bulldogs would pull in front 47-36 after a pair of buckets inside by Battle. Tennessee Tech would not go down easily, responding with a 10-2 run as the teams took the under-eight media timeout. The Golden Eagles maintained the momentum, jumping in front 55-49 with just 4:32 to play.
The Bulldogs would call a timeout, and after the media timeout Asheville looked like a different team as Jones knocked down a jumper that would ignite the 12-0 run. With 30 seconds remaining the Bulldogs held a two-point lead but steals from Stephney and Pember led to six-straight free throws as Asheville grabbed the tough road win.
"I'm really, really proud of our guys to be down six and fight back to come up with a big win away from home, "said Morrell. ""We only scored 45 the other day, and when we don't score as much we can't get into our press. Tonight we were able to get into the press and be aggressive. I thought guys did a really good job of attacking."
What's Next
Asheville will have a few days off, returning to the court on Tuesday evening when it travels to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
