University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, December 4
Asheville, N.C.
2:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
5-3,0-0Big South
82
vs
66
North Carolina Central
3-6,0-0MEAC
1
2
F
N.C. Central
32
34
66
UNC Asheville
36
46
82
Men’s basketball picks up third straight win, downs N.C. Central
12.04.2021 | Men's Basketball
Jones notches first career double-double
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Tajion Jones registered his first career double-double as the UNC Asheville men's basketball team defeated North Carolina Central 82-66 at Kimmel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Jones, who collected a career-high 10 rebounds, also totaled a game-high 23 points on 7-for-15 shooting, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
"He's been close, he's had a few nine-rebound games," said UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell of Jones' double-double. "I thought his ability to go and grab the basketball – especially with LJ (Thorpe) battling foul trouble – was huge. I think for him, because of the way people have guarded him, he's had to make a conscious effort to find other ways to get himself going to score the basketball…I think he's the most underrated player in our league."
In addition to Jones' standout game, the Bulldogs got great production throughout the lineup including 11 points and seven rebounds from Trent Stephney, with Jamon Battle (14) and LJ Thorpe (10) scoring in double figures.
"LJ (Thorpe) got us going early," Morrell said. "Unfortunately foul trouble is going to happen. You have to find ways to win. Tajion jumped off the page, but so did Silas (Mason), so did Doc (Battle). Tay had such a good game it probably overshadowed how good Trent was. He just led our team all game."
What's Next
The win lifts UNC Asheville's record to 5-3 overall, dropping NCCU to 3-6 on the season. Asheville wraps up its four-game home stand Wednesday when it welcomes Chattanooga to town.
"We knew we had four in a row at home, but like I tell our guys just because you play at home gives you nothing when you play really good opponents. The Citadel was a really good opponent, these guys are," Morrell said of N.C. Central. "And Wednesday we've got an opponent we know well so you want good games at home, but when you do that you've got to be ready to play."
The Game at a Glance
It looked like it was going to be a runaway early, as the Bulldogs raced out to a 14-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. N.C. Central clawed back, making the deficit one with under seven left in the first half but a three-point play from Jones helped establish some breathing room.
In the opening minutes of the second, Jones drained a 3-pointer setting up a drive and dunk from Jamon Battle that made the score 43-39. Jones and classmate Coty Jude knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers as Asheville pushed the lead back to nine around the 12-minute mark. With the Eagles attempting to climb back, Silas Mason had a pair of huge buckets that kept the momentum in Asheville's favor, ultimately closing out the game 82-66.
Jones, who collected a career-high 10 rebounds, also totaled a game-high 23 points on 7-for-15 shooting, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
"He's been close, he's had a few nine-rebound games," said UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell of Jones' double-double. "I thought his ability to go and grab the basketball – especially with LJ (Thorpe) battling foul trouble – was huge. I think for him, because of the way people have guarded him, he's had to make a conscious effort to find other ways to get himself going to score the basketball…I think he's the most underrated player in our league."
In addition to Jones' standout game, the Bulldogs got great production throughout the lineup including 11 points and seven rebounds from Trent Stephney, with Jamon Battle (14) and LJ Thorpe (10) scoring in double figures.
"LJ (Thorpe) got us going early," Morrell said. "Unfortunately foul trouble is going to happen. You have to find ways to win. Tajion jumped off the page, but so did Silas (Mason), so did Doc (Battle). Tay had such a good game it probably overshadowed how good Trent was. He just led our team all game."
What's Next
The win lifts UNC Asheville's record to 5-3 overall, dropping NCCU to 3-6 on the season. Asheville wraps up its four-game home stand Wednesday when it welcomes Chattanooga to town.
"We knew we had four in a row at home, but like I tell our guys just because you play at home gives you nothing when you play really good opponents. The Citadel was a really good opponent, these guys are," Morrell said of N.C. Central. "And Wednesday we've got an opponent we know well so you want good games at home, but when you do that you've got to be ready to play."
The Game at a Glance
- Jones totals 23 points, 10 rebounds for first career double-double
- Bulldogs get 42 points in the paint
- Asheville outrebounds NCCU 38-32, forces 17 turnovers
- Drew Pember totals eight points, nine rebounds, four blocks
It looked like it was going to be a runaway early, as the Bulldogs raced out to a 14-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. N.C. Central clawed back, making the deficit one with under seven left in the first half but a three-point play from Jones helped establish some breathing room.
In the opening minutes of the second, Jones drained a 3-pointer setting up a drive and dunk from Jamon Battle that made the score 43-39. Jones and classmate Coty Jude knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers as Asheville pushed the lead back to nine around the 12-minute mark. With the Eagles attempting to climb back, Silas Mason had a pair of huge buckets that kept the momentum in Asheville's favor, ultimately closing out the game 82-66.
Team Stats
NCCU
UNC-A
FG%
.367
.509
3FG%
.313
.250
FT%
.850
.759
RB
32
38
TO
17
18
STL
10
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
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