University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 26
Asheville, N.C.
4:30 PM
UNC Asheville
16-13,8-8Big South
98
vs
96
Presbyterian
12-19,4-12Big South
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
OT 3
F
Presbyterian
37
35
8
10
6
96
UNC Asheville
39
33
8
10
8
98
Bulldogs top Presbyterian 98-96 in first triple-overtime game in program history
02.26.2022 | Men's Basketball
Men’s basketball earns No. 5 seed in upcoming Big South Tournament
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A crowded Kimmel Arena was home to a historic night on Saturday, as the UNC Asheville men's basketball team topped Presbyterian 98-96 in a three-overtime thriller to close out the regular season.
The Bulldogs, who were without the services of Drew Pember, as Silas Mason would hit two free throws to send the game to its first overtime. In overtime number one, the Bulldogs defense held strong as time expired to send Kimmel Arena to just its second double-overtime game in its history, where Coty Jude would sink two of three free throws to force the third and final overtime. In the last five minutes of the game, LJ Thorpe and Jude put Asheville in front, and Quay Kimble jumped in the passing lane with five seconds to play as the Bulldogs were victorious 98-96.
"There's been a lot of games this year where Drew (Pember) put up big numbers and today we didn't have that, but there's a lot of guys that stepped up in a variety of roles," said Head Coach Mike Morrell. "All that matters is that we were able to win by one point. It just took 55 minutes to do it."
Charlotte Seeding
With the victory, Asheville ends its regular season with a 16-13 overall record and is an even 8-8 in conference play. The win also bumped the Bulldogs up to the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Big South Conference Championship held at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will face Charleston Southern on Wednesday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. For all ticket and hotel information, visit the link here, and to view the full bracket, click here.
Standout Stats
On Honoring the Seniors:
"That's all it was about (today). Honoring those guys and obviously trying to beat Presbyterian. But honoring those guys was all the motivation we needed today to honor those guys in their last game at Kimmel."
On How the Game Ended:
"Again, glad those guys can have that type of experience. That game like, I told them is probably the one you'll remember the most because it's the last one. That game is probably one they'll remember the most anyway. The way we won that was pretty special, especially with the tough losses we've had this year.
On the crowd:
"I thought that got us over the hump a few times. It was a special day. We don't win that game without all the people that came out today. Last two crowds have been phenomenal and glad we could get one in the right side of the column."
How it Happened
Thorpe had it going early, scoring 12 points in the first half as the Bulldogs took a 39-37 lead into the break. Jamon Battle (14 points, 3 rebounds) created buckets at the rim and the foul line at the score was knotted up at 66-66 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Mason, who scored eight points in the first half, totaled eight in the second including two free throws that sent the game to its first overtime.
The first overtime was back-and-forth as Presbyterian went ahead by three with just 42 seconds to play. Jones knocked down a massive 3-pointer to tie the score at 80-80 and Asheville's defense forced a Rayshon Harrison miss to send the game to overtime number two.
After Presbyterian jumped out to a five-point lead, the senior duo of Jones and Jude connected from downtown to cut the deficit to two, as Jude would get fouled shooting a three in the waning seconds, knocking town two of three free throws to force the third and final overtime.
Thorpe opened the third with two free throws and a jumper in the lane as Jude connected on his lone 3-pointer of the night as the Bulldogs clung to a one-point lead. Trent Stephney would corral a rebound and put Asheville up by two, and graduate transfer Quay Kimble sealed the deal with a steal on Presbyterian's last possession of the game.
The Bulldogs, who were without the services of Drew Pember, as Silas Mason would hit two free throws to send the game to its first overtime. In overtime number one, the Bulldogs defense held strong as time expired to send Kimmel Arena to just its second double-overtime game in its history, where Coty Jude would sink two of three free throws to force the third and final overtime. In the last five minutes of the game, LJ Thorpe and Jude put Asheville in front, and Quay Kimble jumped in the passing lane with five seconds to play as the Bulldogs were victorious 98-96.
"There's been a lot of games this year where Drew (Pember) put up big numbers and today we didn't have that, but there's a lot of guys that stepped up in a variety of roles," said Head Coach Mike Morrell. "All that matters is that we were able to win by one point. It just took 55 minutes to do it."
Charlotte Seeding
With the victory, Asheville ends its regular season with a 16-13 overall record and is an even 8-8 in conference play. The win also bumped the Bulldogs up to the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Big South Conference Championship held at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will face Charleston Southern on Wednesday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. For all ticket and hotel information, visit the link here, and to view the full bracket, click here.
Standout Stats
- First game in program history to go to three overtimes; second in Kimmel to go 2OT or more
- Seniors combine for 75 of 98 points led by Thorpe's 28, Tajion Jones' 16
- Bulldogs commit just 10 turnovers, force 25 while getting 39 points from its bench
- Jude free throws force 3rd overtime, Kimble steal seals victory
- Mason sets career-highs in points (16), free throws made & attempted (8-of-9), minutes played (41)
- Bulldogs improve to 16-1 when leading at halftime
- 98 is highest point total in Big South game since February 9, 2017 vs. Winthrop (only other 2OT game in Kimmel)
- Thorpe scores 28 for third time this season, 14-plus in 9 of last 10 games
- Jones hits five 3-pointers for 4th time this season
On Honoring the Seniors:
"That's all it was about (today). Honoring those guys and obviously trying to beat Presbyterian. But honoring those guys was all the motivation we needed today to honor those guys in their last game at Kimmel."
On How the Game Ended:
"Again, glad those guys can have that type of experience. That game like, I told them is probably the one you'll remember the most because it's the last one. That game is probably one they'll remember the most anyway. The way we won that was pretty special, especially with the tough losses we've had this year.
On the crowd:
"I thought that got us over the hump a few times. It was a special day. We don't win that game without all the people that came out today. Last two crowds have been phenomenal and glad we could get one in the right side of the column."
How it Happened
Thorpe had it going early, scoring 12 points in the first half as the Bulldogs took a 39-37 lead into the break. Jamon Battle (14 points, 3 rebounds) created buckets at the rim and the foul line at the score was knotted up at 66-66 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Mason, who scored eight points in the first half, totaled eight in the second including two free throws that sent the game to its first overtime.
The first overtime was back-and-forth as Presbyterian went ahead by three with just 42 seconds to play. Jones knocked down a massive 3-pointer to tie the score at 80-80 and Asheville's defense forced a Rayshon Harrison miss to send the game to overtime number two.
After Presbyterian jumped out to a five-point lead, the senior duo of Jones and Jude connected from downtown to cut the deficit to two, as Jude would get fouled shooting a three in the waning seconds, knocking town two of three free throws to force the third and final overtime.
Thorpe opened the third with two free throws and a jumper in the lane as Jude connected on his lone 3-pointer of the night as the Bulldogs clung to a one-point lead. Trent Stephney would corral a rebound and put Asheville up by two, and graduate transfer Quay Kimble sealed the deal with a steal on Presbyterian's last possession of the game.
Team Stats
Presb
UNC-A
FG%
.538
.423
3FG%
.308
.333
FT%
.629
.667
RB
46
33
TO
25
10
STL
7
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
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