University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, March 19
Daytona Beach, FL
2:30 p.m.
UNC Asheville
17-14,8-8Big South
80
vs
68
Stephen F. Austin
22-10,14-4WAC
1
2
F
SFA
28
40
68
UNC Asheville
34
46
80
Asheville earns first postseason win since 2011
Men’s basketball tops Stephen F. Austin for first postseason win since 2011
03.19.2022 | Men's Basketball
Bulldogs down Lumberjacks 80-68 in College Basketball Invitational
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Competing in the postseason for the first time since 2018, the UNC Asheville Men's Basketball team topped the No. 4-seeded Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 80-68 in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
Drew Pember led the way with 17 points and six blocks as the Bulldogs outscored the Lumberjacks by six in each half. Tajion Jones was keyed in from deep, going 4-of-7 from 3-point range to finish with 16 points, while Jamon Battle scored 15. As a team, Asheville shot 52.2 percent from three and 50.9 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle 36-27.
What's Next
The Bulldogs now await the winner of Florida Atlantic and Northern Colorado who play on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Asheville, who improves to 17-14 on the season, will tip off at 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Stephen F. Austin has its season end with an overall record of 22-10.
The Game at a Glance
On the Composure of the team:
"This is what you work for in the offseason, to have responses like we responded when they scored seven in a row," UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell said. "We stayed connected and that's what you draw up in the summer about winning in March, advancing and what that feels like, and that's a heck of a program in Stephen F. Austin."
On Battle's performance:
"I can't say enough about him. Doc Battle was just unbelievable. His ability to stay connected. I don't know what his stats are but that's as good of a game as he's ever had and he's just been terrific."
How it Happened
The three ball was falling early as the Bulldogs raced out to a 15-5 lead. Stephen F. Austin climbed back and made the score 17-15 before Asheville pulled back in front by eight. Leading 30-28 in the waning seconds of the half, Thorpe was fouled as he knocked down a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, giving Asheville a 34-28 lead after 20 minutes.
The Lumberjacks regrouped at half and grabbed their first lead, making the score 45-40 with 15 to play. UNC Asheville bounced back, getting a three-point play from Battle and 3-pointers from Jones and Quay Kimble to jump in front 56-49. Stephen F. Austin would cut the deficit to five with seven minutes to play, but the Bulldogs continued to answer and took the contest 80-68.
Drew Pember led the way with 17 points and six blocks as the Bulldogs outscored the Lumberjacks by six in each half. Tajion Jones was keyed in from deep, going 4-of-7 from 3-point range to finish with 16 points, while Jamon Battle scored 15. As a team, Asheville shot 52.2 percent from three and 50.9 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle 36-27.
What's Next
The Bulldogs now await the winner of Florida Atlantic and Northern Colorado who play on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Asheville, who improves to 17-14 on the season, will tip off at 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Stephen F. Austin has its season end with an overall record of 22-10.
The Game at a Glance
- Asheville grabs first postseason win since 2011 in first appearance since 2018
- Bulldogs go 12-of-23 from 3-point range, shoot 50.9 percent from the floor
- Pember scores 17, swats six shots to give him 91 on the season (4th most in a single season at Asheville)
- Jones knocks down four 3-pointers, scores 16
- Battle scores 15 points, 5-of-5 from the free throw line
On the Composure of the team:
"This is what you work for in the offseason, to have responses like we responded when they scored seven in a row," UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell said. "We stayed connected and that's what you draw up in the summer about winning in March, advancing and what that feels like, and that's a heck of a program in Stephen F. Austin."
On Battle's performance:
"I can't say enough about him. Doc Battle was just unbelievable. His ability to stay connected. I don't know what his stats are but that's as good of a game as he's ever had and he's just been terrific."
How it Happened
The three ball was falling early as the Bulldogs raced out to a 15-5 lead. Stephen F. Austin climbed back and made the score 17-15 before Asheville pulled back in front by eight. Leading 30-28 in the waning seconds of the half, Thorpe was fouled as he knocked down a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, giving Asheville a 34-28 lead after 20 minutes.
The Lumberjacks regrouped at half and grabbed their first lead, making the score 45-40 with 15 to play. UNC Asheville bounced back, getting a three-point play from Battle and 3-pointers from Jones and Quay Kimble to jump in front 56-49. Stephen F. Austin would cut the deficit to five with seven minutes to play, but the Bulldogs continued to answer and took the contest 80-68.
Team Stats
SFA
UNC-A
FG%
.458
.509
3FG%
.222
.522
FT%
.667
.737
RB
27
36
TO
16
21
STL
10
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballF
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