University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Tuesday, November 1
Asheville, NC
6:30 pm
UNC Asheville
vs
Milligan
Men’s Basketball Hosts Milligan in an Exhibition Game on Tuesday
10.31.2022 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team will host Milligan for an exhibition game Tuesday evening at Kimmel Arena. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Buffaloes is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Gameday Links
Live Stats
Radio
ESPN+
Preseason Prediction – The Bulldogs, which posted a 17-15 record overall including an 8-8 mark in Big South play a season ago, were predicted to finish third in the recent Big South Preseason Poll. The annual preseason poll had defending champion Longwood at the top with 195 points. Winthrop (170 points), Asheville (159 points), and Gardner-Webb (136 points) all totaled over 100 points as well to make up the league's top four teams. High Point (89 points), Campbell (88 points), Radford (88 points), and USC Upstate (86 points) were separated by just three points, while Presbyterian (49 points) and Charleston Southern (40 points) closed out the poll.
Big South Preseason Player of the Year – In addition to the preseason poll, the Big South also announced that Asheville's Drew Pember was anointed the League's Preseason Player of the Year. Pember is just the fifth Bulldog to be named the Big South's Preseason Player of the Year and the first since Matt Dickey prior to the 2011-12 season. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Pember was named the Big South's Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the League's First Team at season's end. Pember was just the third Bulldog to ever earn the Big South's Defensive Player of the Year Award. A 2021-22 NABC Second Team All-District selection as well, Pember led Asheville in scoring (488 points), scoring average (15.7 PPG), free throw percentage (86.3 %), rebounding (205), and blocks (93). Pember finished the season ranking sixth nationally in blocks per game (3.0) and 10th in the country with 93 blocks.
Tajion Back for a Sixth Season - A 2021-22 Preseason All-Big South First Team selection, Tajion Jones was also named to the Preseason All-Big South Second Team last week. Jones was the only Bulldog to start all 32 games for the team last season. He played a team-high 1,057 minutes, shot 42.6 percent from the field, and a 39.3 clip from 3-point range. Jones knocked down 83 shots from beyond the arc. His 83 3-pointers made and his shooting percentage from 3-point range both ranked second in the Big South.
More on the Bulldogs - In addition to Pember and Jones, the Bulldogs also return Trent Stephney, Jamon Battle, and Silas Mason for 2022-23. Each player played a large number of minutes for Asheville last season. Fletcher Abee, who transferred from The Citadel in the middle of last year, as well as Dean Gabrelcik (redshirt) are ready for their Bulldog debuts after not suiting up for the team last season. The Bulldogs will have several new faces on the court this season that include multiple transfers. Caleb Burgess (Hofstra), Alex Caldwell (NC Central/SE Missouri State), Nick McMullen (Murray State), and Amadou Sylla (Tennessee Tech) all bring sizable amounts of playing experience at the Division I level to the Bulldog lineup.
Ticket Information - A reminder that single game and season tickets are on sale now. Tickets, including for Tuesday's game, can be purchased HERE.
Gameday Links
Live Stats
Radio
ESPN+
Preseason Prediction – The Bulldogs, which posted a 17-15 record overall including an 8-8 mark in Big South play a season ago, were predicted to finish third in the recent Big South Preseason Poll. The annual preseason poll had defending champion Longwood at the top with 195 points. Winthrop (170 points), Asheville (159 points), and Gardner-Webb (136 points) all totaled over 100 points as well to make up the league's top four teams. High Point (89 points), Campbell (88 points), Radford (88 points), and USC Upstate (86 points) were separated by just three points, while Presbyterian (49 points) and Charleston Southern (40 points) closed out the poll.
Big South Preseason Player of the Year – In addition to the preseason poll, the Big South also announced that Asheville's Drew Pember was anointed the League's Preseason Player of the Year. Pember is just the fifth Bulldog to be named the Big South's Preseason Player of the Year and the first since Matt Dickey prior to the 2011-12 season. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Pember was named the Big South's Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the League's First Team at season's end. Pember was just the third Bulldog to ever earn the Big South's Defensive Player of the Year Award. A 2021-22 NABC Second Team All-District selection as well, Pember led Asheville in scoring (488 points), scoring average (15.7 PPG), free throw percentage (86.3 %), rebounding (205), and blocks (93). Pember finished the season ranking sixth nationally in blocks per game (3.0) and 10th in the country with 93 blocks.
Tajion Back for a Sixth Season - A 2021-22 Preseason All-Big South First Team selection, Tajion Jones was also named to the Preseason All-Big South Second Team last week. Jones was the only Bulldog to start all 32 games for the team last season. He played a team-high 1,057 minutes, shot 42.6 percent from the field, and a 39.3 clip from 3-point range. Jones knocked down 83 shots from beyond the arc. His 83 3-pointers made and his shooting percentage from 3-point range both ranked second in the Big South.
More on the Bulldogs - In addition to Pember and Jones, the Bulldogs also return Trent Stephney, Jamon Battle, and Silas Mason for 2022-23. Each player played a large number of minutes for Asheville last season. Fletcher Abee, who transferred from The Citadel in the middle of last year, as well as Dean Gabrelcik (redshirt) are ready for their Bulldog debuts after not suiting up for the team last season. The Bulldogs will have several new faces on the court this season that include multiple transfers. Caleb Burgess (Hofstra), Alex Caldwell (NC Central/SE Missouri State), Nick McMullen (Murray State), and Amadou Sylla (Tennessee Tech) all bring sizable amounts of playing experience at the Division I level to the Bulldog lineup.
Ticket Information - A reminder that single game and season tickets are on sale now. Tickets, including for Tuesday's game, can be purchased HERE.
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