University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Longwood
Men’s basketball to host Longwood in Big South Quarterfinal game Monday
02.28.2021 | Men's Basketball
7:00 p.m. tip from Kimmel on ESPN3
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After 30 days, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team returns to the court on Monday, hosting No. 5 Longwood in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 Hercules Tires Big South Men's Basketball Championship.
Finishing the regular season 10-9 and 9-5 in Big South play, the Bulldogs earned the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye. Monday's game will be the first Big South Tournament Quarterfinal game at Kimmel Arena since 2018. Additionally, Asheville's five league losses ranked second only to Winthrop among Big South teams this season. The nine wins are the most for Asheville since the 2017-18 team totaled (13-5), finishing the 2020-21 regular season fourth in the Big South in conference winning percentage (.643) and overall winning percentage (.526). The game will tip at 7:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to the semifinal round Thursday.
The Bulldogs are Back
Due to Covid, Asheville has not played a game since January 29, when they defeated the previously unbeaten Winthrop Eagles 57-55. The win was the first Asheville victory in Rock Hill since 2011, powered by Trent Stephney and LJ Thorpe, who scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. Asheville will look to pick up where it left off before the break, with an offense that averaged 74.1 points per game, ranking second in the Big South. The three ball has been key for the Bulldogs this season, shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range (2nd, Big South), while holding opponents to 32.2 percent shooting from behind the arc (3rd, Big South).
All-Conference Honors
The Big South announced its 2020-21 Men's Basketball All-Conference Awards on Friday, with Tajion Jones being named Second-Team All-Conference while Thorpe garnered All-Conference Honorable Mention. Jones was lights-out from downtown this season, averaging 3.47 three-pointers per game which currently ranks seventh in the NCAA. Jones' 66 made 3-pointers in just 19 games was a league best and still ranks 16th among Division I scorers. A redshirt junior like Jones, Thorpe ranks third on the team in scoring with 11.9 points per game (13th, Big South), while hauling in the second-most rebounds on the team with 81 for the season (4.3). Fellow junior Coty Jude, who is averaging 7.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, was named to the Big South All-Academic Team.
Scouting Longwood
Prior to falling to Hampton on Wednesday, the Lancers had won five games in a row and eight of their last 10 to finish 11-15 overall and 10-10 in conference. The 10-10 mark is a new program mark in the Big South for Longwood. A strength of Longwood is their defense, holding opponents to just 67.0 points per game, ranking second among Big South teams. Juan Munoz powers the offense for the Lancers, leading the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game and 62 made 3-pointers en route to All-Big South Second Team honors. Just Hill is another big part of the Lancers offense, being named to the All-Freshman team after averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds this season.
Series History
Asheville has gotten the better of Longwood over the years, winning 15 of 17 all-time matchups. The Bulldogs have won 12 of the last 13 games in the series, splitting the regular season matchup back in December.
How to Watch
Matt Stradley and John Williams will have the television call on ESPN3, while Brian Hall and Mike Gore can be heard on 570 WNNC. Live stats are also available here.
