University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
The Citadel
Men’s basketball welcomes The Citadel Wednesday
11.29.2021 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team remains at home on Wednesday, welcoming The Citadel to Kimmel Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
Welcome Back
After three games on the road, Sunday was a nice homecoming for UNC Asheville, eclipsing the 100-point mark for the second time this season in its 106-36 victory over St. Andrews. The 36 points tied the program record for fewest points allowed, while the Bulldogs connected on 66.1 percent of its shots from the floor – the highest percentage since 2018 (at Liberty).
Three and D
Asheville has had a lot of its success on the defensive end this season, ranking 27th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.1). The Bulldogs also do a good job of defending without fouling, committing just 12.8 fouls a game (10th, DI) while leading Big South teams with a turnover margin of +3.3. With Drew Pember (24 blocks) leading the charge, Asheville is averaging 6.0 blocks per game – good for 14th amongst Division I teams. Offensively, the Bulldogs are knocking down 9.8 threes per game, checking in second behind Winthrop among Big South squads.
Scouting The Citadel
The Citadel Bulldogs have gotten off to a strong start this season, sitting at 4-2 overall. The biggest win of the young season was a 78-63 road victory over Pittsburgh on November 9. The two losses for The Citadel came at the hands of the Big South's Presbyterian Blue Hose (74-70) and current No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (107-81). Hayden Brown leads a Citadel offense that ranks seventh in the NCAA in scoring (88.3 ppg), averaging 17.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest down low. The graduate student has already posted two double-doubles, including a 26 and 17 effort at Presbyterian. The Citadel also leads the country in 3-pointers per game (13.3), with freshman Jason Roche knocking down 22 thus far.
Battle of the Bulldogs
UNC Asheville and The Citadel have squared off four times in their respective histories, sitting at an even 2-2. The two sides actually met two seasons ago, with Asheville topping The Citadel 91-76 in Charleston. Tajion Jones dropped 23 points and snagged seven rebounds in that contest, while LJ Thorpe totaled 12 and eight in the win.
How to Follow
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and you can listen live on ESPN Asheville radio. You can also follow the live stats here.
