University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Monday, November 7
Orlando, FL
8 pm
UNC Asheville
1-0,0-0Big South
98
at
95
UCF
0-1,0-0AAC
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
UNC Asheville
36
40
10
12
98
UCF
33
43
10
9
95
Bulldogs outlast UCF in a double overtime thriller to open the season, 98-95
11.08.2022 | Men's Basketball
ORLANDO, Fla. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team began the new season with an instant classic on Monday as it defeated UCF in a double overtime thriller, 98-95. Drew Pember led the way for the Bulldogs scoring 40 points to go along with nine rebounds to help fuel the victory.
Pember, the Preseason Big South Player of the Year, was very efficient offensively shooting 12-for-21 from the field, 4-for-8 from 3-point range and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line. Tajion Jones netted 20 points in his 2022-23 debut with four makes from beyond the arc. Nick McMullen scored 11 points on a perfect 5-for-5 effort from the field in his Asheville debut and Trent Stephney chipped in 10 points as well.
Asheville started fast on Monday as the Bulldogs netted eight of the first nine points of the game. The Bulldogs would maintain the lead for the duration of the first half with a big reason why being Pember. Pember would score 17 of his 40 points on the night in the first 20 minutes of action to help keep Asheville in front.
UCF would face a deficit as large as nine points in the first half but battled back to close the gap to three points, 36-33, heading into halftime.
Coming out of the break, UCF quickly took its first lead of the game in the opening minutes of the second half. The two teams would continue to trade runs as the second half wore on. At one point, UCF looked like it may have the game as it led Asheville by 10 points (71-61) with 3:15 to go in regulation.
The Bulldogs, however, continued to battle. Key baskets down the stretch from Jones, Stephney, and Pember erased UCF's double-digit lead. A 3-pointer from Pember completed the Bulldog comeback tying the score at 74-74 with 31 seconds to go.
UCF answered with a made shot in the paint to briefly take the lead before Pember knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score again, 76-76. A last-second 3-point attempt from UCF was off the mark and the two teams went to overtime.
The first overtime did not decide a winner as the two teams were still tied at 86-86 at the end of the first extra frame. In the second overtime, Fletcher Abee, Jamon Battle, and Stephney stepped up when Asheville needed it the most. Battle had a key three-point play, while Abee hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes. Abee's last 3-pointer was with 55 seconds left to give Asheville the lead for good.
Following Abee's clutch 3-pointer, UCF netted a pair of free throws to make it 96-95 before a Stephney layup grew the Bulldog lead back to three, 98-95, with 12 seconds left. UCF had a couple attempts to tie the score but all of them were off target and Asheville held on for the 98-95 win.
Asheville, which is 1-0 for the first time since 2018, will be back in action on Saturday when it welcomes Brevard to Kimmel Arena for the Bulldogs' home opener. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Tornados is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
Pember, the Preseason Big South Player of the Year, was very efficient offensively shooting 12-for-21 from the field, 4-for-8 from 3-point range and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line. Tajion Jones netted 20 points in his 2022-23 debut with four makes from beyond the arc. Nick McMullen scored 11 points on a perfect 5-for-5 effort from the field in his Asheville debut and Trent Stephney chipped in 10 points as well.
Asheville started fast on Monday as the Bulldogs netted eight of the first nine points of the game. The Bulldogs would maintain the lead for the duration of the first half with a big reason why being Pember. Pember would score 17 of his 40 points on the night in the first 20 minutes of action to help keep Asheville in front.
Drew with another 3! The Preseason Big South Preseason Player of the Year already has 15 points tonight! Bulldogs are up by five! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/rGUgOKmbF0
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 8, 2022
UCF would face a deficit as large as nine points in the first half but battled back to close the gap to three points, 36-33, heading into halftime.
Coming out of the break, UCF quickly took its first lead of the game in the opening minutes of the second half. The two teams would continue to trade runs as the second half wore on. At one point, UCF looked like it may have the game as it led Asheville by 10 points (71-61) with 3:15 to go in regulation.
The Bulldogs, however, continued to battle. Key baskets down the stretch from Jones, Stephney, and Pember erased UCF's double-digit lead. A 3-pointer from Pember completed the Bulldog comeback tying the score at 74-74 with 31 seconds to go.
DREW PEMBER DELIVERS AGAIN! 36 points for Pember! Asheville and UCF are now tied at 74 with under 30 seconds to play in regulation!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/xa90eVTWLp
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 8, 2022
UCF answered with a made shot in the paint to briefly take the lead before Pember knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score again, 76-76. A last-second 3-point attempt from UCF was off the mark and the two teams went to overtime.
The first overtime did not decide a winner as the two teams were still tied at 86-86 at the end of the first extra frame. In the second overtime, Fletcher Abee, Jamon Battle, and Stephney stepped up when Asheville needed it the most. Battle had a key three-point play, while Abee hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes. Abee's last 3-pointer was with 55 seconds left to give Asheville the lead for good.
Abee for 3!!!! Bulldogs lead 96-93! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/wEHBneFWQd
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 8, 2022
Following Abee's clutch 3-pointer, UCF netted a pair of free throws to make it 96-95 before a Stephney layup grew the Bulldog lead back to three, 98-95, with 12 seconds left. UCF had a couple attempts to tie the score but all of them were off target and Asheville held on for the 98-95 win.
Asheville, which is 1-0 for the first time since 2018, will be back in action on Saturday when it welcomes Brevard to Kimmel Arena for the Bulldogs' home opener. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Tornados is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UNC-A
UCF
FG%
.515
.457
3FG%
.379
.303
FT%
.731
.733
RB
42
39
TO
19
14
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
40
FGM
12
3FGM
4
FTM
12
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
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