University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Wednesday, February 23
Boiling Springs, N.C.
7:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
15-13,7-8Big South
59
at
60
Gardner-Webb
17-11,11-4Big South
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
26
33
59
Gardner-Webb
31
29
60
Asheville drops 60-59 heartbreaker at Gardner-Webb
02.23.2022 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The UNC Asheville Men's Basketball team traveled down the road to Boiling Springs on Wednesday night, dropping the contest 60-59 after a D'Maurian Williams elbow jumper gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the one-point win.
Trailing until the 11:35 mark in the second, LJ Thorpe scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as a lob to Drew Pember made the score 59-57 with 30.1 seconds to play. On the ensuing Gardner-Webb possession, Williams was awarded two free throws, hitting the front end to cut the lead to one, knocking down an elbow jumper seconds later to lift the Runnin' Bulldogs to victory.
The Game at a Glance
Asheville now falls to 15-13 overall and 7-8 in league play. The Bulldogs will finish the regular season this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. when they welcome Presbyterian to Kimmel Arena. Gardner-Webb solidifies their position in the Big South standings, improving to 11-4 in conference (17-11 overall).
"We got the deficit to five coming into half and took the lead but it was what almost every single game in the Big South is, it's a war," UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell said. "It typically comes down to trying to get a stop at the end, unfortunately for us that's now the third game that we've not been able to get one so it's really disappointing, but not disappointed in the guys' effort. The effort was terrific. Garder-Webb is the best defensive team in the league and you saw why tonight. They make everything really tough."
More from Morrell
On Bouncing Back Saturday:
"Try to bounce back. Focus on the next most important thing which is to respond. The guys will. They'll be ready for Saturday as we try to honor our seniors during their last time in Kimmel. That's all we can do. These guys have done a really good job for the most part all year, but it doesn't take away the fact that this one really stings."
How it Happened
The scoring was even to start, but Gardner-Webb slowly took control, pushing their advantage to 10 points with just over a minute to play in the half. Asheville would rally down the stretch as Battle and Thorpe hit free throws and a Pember tip-in made the score 31-26 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs at the break.
The Bulldogs continued to climb back, taking their first lead of the game when Pember converted a three-point play at the 11:35 mark in the second. Minutes later, Jones would knock down Asheville's first 3-pointer of the game (8:36) to knot the game up at 42-42. In the last 4:16, Thorpe knocked down three 3-pointers and lobbed the ball to Pember as the Bulldogs pulled in front 59-57. Williams would drive and be given a foul, hitting one of two before a missed free throw from Asheville set up the ultimate game-winner.
Trailing until the 11:35 mark in the second, LJ Thorpe scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as a lob to Drew Pember made the score 59-57 with 30.1 seconds to play. On the ensuing Gardner-Webb possession, Williams was awarded two free throws, hitting the front end to cut the lead to one, knocking down an elbow jumper seconds later to lift the Runnin' Bulldogs to victory.
The Game at a Glance
- Bulldogs hold Gardner-Webb to just 18.2 percent from three, but go just 4-for-16 (0-for-9 in first half)
- Thorpe scores 13 in second half, nine points in last 4:16
- Pember scores 13 points, grabs nine rebounds; Tajion Jones scores seven, grabs nine boards
Asheville now falls to 15-13 overall and 7-8 in league play. The Bulldogs will finish the regular season this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. when they welcome Presbyterian to Kimmel Arena. Gardner-Webb solidifies their position in the Big South standings, improving to 11-4 in conference (17-11 overall).
"We got the deficit to five coming into half and took the lead but it was what almost every single game in the Big South is, it's a war," UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell said. "It typically comes down to trying to get a stop at the end, unfortunately for us that's now the third game that we've not been able to get one so it's really disappointing, but not disappointed in the guys' effort. The effort was terrific. Garder-Webb is the best defensive team in the league and you saw why tonight. They make everything really tough."
More from Morrell
On Bouncing Back Saturday:
"Try to bounce back. Focus on the next most important thing which is to respond. The guys will. They'll be ready for Saturday as we try to honor our seniors during their last time in Kimmel. That's all we can do. These guys have done a really good job for the most part all year, but it doesn't take away the fact that this one really stings."
How it Happened
The scoring was even to start, but Gardner-Webb slowly took control, pushing their advantage to 10 points with just over a minute to play in the half. Asheville would rally down the stretch as Battle and Thorpe hit free throws and a Pember tip-in made the score 31-26 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs at the break.
The Bulldogs continued to climb back, taking their first lead of the game when Pember converted a three-point play at the 11:35 mark in the second. Minutes later, Jones would knock down Asheville's first 3-pointer of the game (8:36) to knot the game up at 42-42. In the last 4:16, Thorpe knocked down three 3-pointers and lobbed the ball to Pember as the Bulldogs pulled in front 59-57. Williams would drive and be given a foul, hitting one of two before a missed free throw from Asheville set up the ultimate game-winner.
Team Stats
UNC-A
GW
FG%
.400
.413
3FG%
.250
.182
FT%
.833
.400
RB
34
39
TO
12
12
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
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