University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, January 15
Asheville, N.C.
2:00 PM
UNC Asheville
10-7,2-2Big South
73
vs
76
USC Upstate
6-10,3-1Big South
1
2
F
USC Upstate
35
41
76
UNC Asheville
33
40
73
Men’s basketball battles, falls by three to USC Upstate
01.15.2022 | Men's Basketball
Thorpe scores 1,000th career-point
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team hosted USC Upstate for a Big South Divisional matchup on Saturday afternoon, Bryson Mozone jumper lifted the Spartans to a 76-73 win at Kimmel Arena.
Where they Stand
The loss drops Asheville to 10-7 overall and an even 2-2 in conference play, while USC Upstate moves to 6-10 overall, but improves to 3-1 in the Big South. The Bulldogs will remain at home, welcoming N.C. A&T to town on Wednesday.
"We talked about guarding the 3-point line, we limited their threes but we didn't make them miss their threes and in their wins they've made shots. You have to get them a lot of credit," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell of USC Upstate. "9-for-15 from three is impressive. We needed to make it tougher and at the end of the game we needed one stop and we didn't get it. They were the tougher team for 40 minutes. It's been rare we've said that but we had to today."
Standout Stats
Both teams were near perfect to start the game, with Asheville taking a 17-15 lead at the 14:25 mark. Upstate freshman Jordan Gainey knocked down a three the next trip down as the Spartans built a 10-point lead with less than six to play in the half. The Bulldogs responded in the latter part of the half, closing the period on a 12-4 run (35-33).
The teams opened the second as they did the first with Upstate holding onto a narrow lead. Pember would tie the game with a layup at the 9:04 mark, but Gainey answered with another three. Minutes later, Battle was able to power through traffic and convert a 3-point play to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the half (63-62). With two minutes remaining, Mozone converted a three-point play of his own as the Spartans went ahead 72-69. Thorpe answered with a layup and Battle once again gave Asheville a lead by knocking down a free throw.
On the ensuing possession, Battle nearly caused a turnover but Upstate was awarded a timeout, setting up a falling jumper from Mozone and two free throws to seal the game 76-73.
More from Morrell
On the focus for Wednesday
"We've got to guard. We've got to get better. It's two games in a row the other team has shot above 50 percent and you're not going to win a lot of games in our league if that continues."
On Jamon Battle's play:
"We needed two or three of Doc today. It's a lesson whether we decide we want to learn it or not is up to us. But he was a shining light today. That's why I didn't take him out in the second half. We couldn't."
On LJ Thorpe's scoring 1,000 points
"LJ's been great. Really proud of him and everything he's accomplished. LJ's been a big reason we've been able to build here and I'm just really proud of him."
Where they Stand
The loss drops Asheville to 10-7 overall and an even 2-2 in conference play, while USC Upstate moves to 6-10 overall, but improves to 3-1 in the Big South. The Bulldogs will remain at home, welcoming N.C. A&T to town on Wednesday.
"We talked about guarding the 3-point line, we limited their threes but we didn't make them miss their threes and in their wins they've made shots. You have to get them a lot of credit," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell of USC Upstate. "9-for-15 from three is impressive. We needed to make it tougher and at the end of the game we needed one stop and we didn't get it. They were the tougher team for 40 minutes. It's been rare we've said that but we had to today."
Standout Stats
- Upstate goes 9-of-15 from 3-point range (60%)
- Bulldogs knock down season-low three 3-pointers (3-for-20)
- LJ Thorpe eclipses 1,000-career point mark (37th to do so at Asheville, 23rd in DI era)
- Drew Pember ties career-high with 27 points; 4th time in the last six games with 23 or more points
- Battle scores 16, grabs five rebounds, blocks two shots
Both teams were near perfect to start the game, with Asheville taking a 17-15 lead at the 14:25 mark. Upstate freshman Jordan Gainey knocked down a three the next trip down as the Spartans built a 10-point lead with less than six to play in the half. The Bulldogs responded in the latter part of the half, closing the period on a 12-4 run (35-33).
The teams opened the second as they did the first with Upstate holding onto a narrow lead. Pember would tie the game with a layup at the 9:04 mark, but Gainey answered with another three. Minutes later, Battle was able to power through traffic and convert a 3-point play to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the half (63-62). With two minutes remaining, Mozone converted a three-point play of his own as the Spartans went ahead 72-69. Thorpe answered with a layup and Battle once again gave Asheville a lead by knocking down a free throw.
On the ensuing possession, Battle nearly caused a turnover but Upstate was awarded a timeout, setting up a falling jumper from Mozone and two free throws to seal the game 76-73.
More from Morrell
On the focus for Wednesday
"We've got to guard. We've got to get better. It's two games in a row the other team has shot above 50 percent and you're not going to win a lot of games in our league if that continues."
On Jamon Battle's play:
"We needed two or three of Doc today. It's a lesson whether we decide we want to learn it or not is up to us. But he was a shining light today. That's why I didn't take him out in the second half. We couldn't."
On LJ Thorpe's scoring 1,000 points
"LJ's been great. Really proud of him and everything he's accomplished. LJ's been a big reason we've been able to build here and I'm just really proud of him."
Team Stats
USCU
UNC-A
FG%
.537
.481
3FG%
.600
.150
FT%
.818
.818
RB
25
32
TO
10
12
STL
3
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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