University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, November 19
Atlanta, GA
5:30 pm
UNC Asheville
3-1,0-0Big South
75
vs
77
Eastern Kentucky
3-2,0-0ASUN
1
2
F
Eastern Ky.
43
34
77
UNC Asheville
30
45
75
Bulldogs drop a close one to Eastern Kentucky, 77-75
11.19.2022 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team battled back from an early deficit but ultimately fell to Eastern Kentucky by a score of 77-75 on Saturday on the second day of the Capitol Classic in Atlanta.
"We dug ourselves a pretty big hole early on," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell afterward. "Most of the game was spent trying to get ourselves out of it. I felt EKU's pressure really affected us in the first four to five minutes of the game, and it caught us back on our heels. Once we became more aggressive the game changed. Our effort throughout the game was there. Our execution early was the difference. Now we'll try to regroup and get back on track tomorrow."
For the first time since January 2021, Asheville had five players finish a game in double figures. Drew Pember once again led the way for the Bulldogs finishing the night with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks. Tajion Jones, Jamon Battle, and Fletcher Abee all finished with 12 points, while Stephney added 11.
Asheville and Eastern Kentucky would trade the first few points on Saturday. However, EKU's offense would quickly find another gear as it rattled off a 16-0 run to put the Bulldogs in an early hole, 22-6. The Colonels, who were shooting an impressive 78 percent from the field at the under-12 minute media timeout, would cool off a bit as the first half wore on.
With an early deficit to battle back from, the Bulldogs were able to chip away at the EKU lead to get within single digits on a couple of occasions. Jones (seven points), Pember (seven points), and Battle (six points) were able to find the bottom of the net to help Asheville close the gap. However, an EKU 3-pointer in the closing seconds pushed its lead back out to 13 points, 43-30, as the teams returned to the locker room for halftime.
The Bulldogs played much better in the second half. Early in the second half, however, it seemed like the Colonels had an answer to every Bulldog run. Asheville kept battling though and made it a two-possession game at the under-eight-minute media timeout, 62-56.
Asheville received contributions from several different players to help chip away at the EKU lead with Battle, Pember, Stephney, Abee, Jones, Caleb Burgess, and Alex Caldwell knocked down some big shots to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance as the second half wore on.
A 3-pointer from Abee with eight seconds got the Bulldogs within three, 75-72. A pair of made free throws from EKU made the score 77-72 before Stephney hit a 3-pointer as time expired to make the final, 77-75.
The Bulldogs, now 3-1 on the season, will finish up play at the Capitol Classic on Sunday. Asheville will face off against host Georgia State at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
"We dug ourselves a pretty big hole early on," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell afterward. "Most of the game was spent trying to get ourselves out of it. I felt EKU's pressure really affected us in the first four to five minutes of the game, and it caught us back on our heels. Once we became more aggressive the game changed. Our effort throughout the game was there. Our execution early was the difference. Now we'll try to regroup and get back on track tomorrow."
For the first time since January 2021, Asheville had five players finish a game in double figures. Drew Pember once again led the way for the Bulldogs finishing the night with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks. Tajion Jones, Jamon Battle, and Fletcher Abee all finished with 12 points, while Stephney added 11.
Asheville and Eastern Kentucky would trade the first few points on Saturday. However, EKU's offense would quickly find another gear as it rattled off a 16-0 run to put the Bulldogs in an early hole, 22-6. The Colonels, who were shooting an impressive 78 percent from the field at the under-12 minute media timeout, would cool off a bit as the first half wore on.
With an early deficit to battle back from, the Bulldogs were able to chip away at the EKU lead to get within single digits on a couple of occasions. Jones (seven points), Pember (seven points), and Battle (six points) were able to find the bottom of the net to help Asheville close the gap. However, an EKU 3-pointer in the closing seconds pushed its lead back out to 13 points, 43-30, as the teams returned to the locker room for halftime.
The Bulldogs played much better in the second half. Early in the second half, however, it seemed like the Colonels had an answer to every Bulldog run. Asheville kept battling though and made it a two-possession game at the under-eight-minute media timeout, 62-56.
Asheville received contributions from several different players to help chip away at the EKU lead with Battle, Pember, Stephney, Abee, Jones, Caleb Burgess, and Alex Caldwell knocked down some big shots to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance as the second half wore on.
A 3-pointer from Abee with eight seconds got the Bulldogs within three, 75-72. A pair of made free throws from EKU made the score 77-72 before Stephney hit a 3-pointer as time expired to make the final, 77-75.
The Bulldogs, now 3-1 on the season, will finish up play at the Capitol Classic on Sunday. Asheville will face off against host Georgia State at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
EKU
AVL
FG%
.475
.431
3FG%
.389
.400
FT%
.750
.529
RB
43
31
TO
15
9
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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