University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, January 14
Boiling Springs, NC
2 pm
UNC Asheville
13-6,5-1Big South
72
at
67
Gardner-Webb
8-10,3-3Big South
1
2
OT 1
F
UNC Asheville
29
34
9
72
Gardner-Webb
36
27
4
67
Late Game Heroics Lifts Asheville Past Gardner-Webb in Overtime, 72-67
01.14.2023 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – After trailing or being tied for most of regulation, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team received a clutch 3-pointer from Alex Caldwell to force overtime on the road Saturday at Gardner-Webb.
Asheville had four players score in double figures in Saturday's win. Drew Pember once again stuffed the stat sheet for Asheville finishing the day with 22 points, 19 rebounds, four assists to go with five blocks. Pember's 19 rebounds not only marked a new career-high but it is the most rebounds by a Big South player in a single game since Radford's Ed Polite Jr. grabbed 19 boards in a 2019 game vs. High Point.
Fletcher Abee finished the day with 15 points on a very efficient day shooting the ball (5-for-8 from field, 3-for-4 from 3-point range). Tajion Jones chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, while Caldwell also finished the afternoon with 12 points that included that clutch 3-pointer to force overtime.
Even though Gardner-Webb held the lead for most of regulation, Asheville never let the lead become more than a few possessions. The Runnin' Bulldogs did build their largest lead of the game to 12 with just over 18 minutes to go in regulation. However, Asheville continued to battle.
Asheville's fourth straight second half comeback was fueled by several contributors. Pember scored 13 of his 22 points in the final 20 minutes to lead the charge. The Bulldogs also got key makes from Jones, Abee, and Caldwell. A made jump shot from Abee made the score 55-53 with 1:48 to go. It marked the first time that Asheville was within one possession since 5:32 to go in the first half.
In an effort to try and extend the game, the Bulldogs turned up the pressure defensively. One of the results of that pressure was a key traveling call on Gardner-Webb with 27 seconds to go that gave possession back to Asheville trailing by four, 59-55.
Despite makes from Jones and Pember in the final minutes, Asheville still trailed by three points (63-60) with four seconds left. With no timeouts left, Caldwell took the in-bounds pass from Pember and launched a 3-pointer near the half court logo that found the bottom of the net to force overtime, 63-63. Playing in just its second overtime game of the season, Asheville was not fazed. The Bulldogs got key points from Pember, Amadou Sylla, and Caldwell in the extra frame. It was yet another clutch 3-pointer by Caldwell that gave Asheville a 70-67 lead with 28 seconds left.
Gardner-Webb had a chance for some heroics of its own but a missed layup was collected by Pember for his 19th rebound of the day and was promptly fouled. Pember, who continues to be one of the top players in the nation from the free throw line, knocked down both attempts and sealed the Bulldog victory, 72-67.
The Bulldogs will aim to keep this hot streak rolling on Wednesday when they visit Charleston Southern in another Big South tilt. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Buccaneers is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
In the extra period, Asheville outscored Gardner-Webb nine to four and finished off an exciting 72-67 comeback win. The victory, which is Asheville's fourth straight win when trailing in the second half, improves the Bulldogs to 13-6 overall and 5-1 in Big South play.Trust us, you're going to want to hear the radio call of Alex's buzzer beater 🤷🏻♂️#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/Qx1TeIlXBz
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 15, 2023
Asheville had four players score in double figures in Saturday's win. Drew Pember once again stuffed the stat sheet for Asheville finishing the day with 22 points, 19 rebounds, four assists to go with five blocks. Pember's 19 rebounds not only marked a new career-high but it is the most rebounds by a Big South player in a single game since Radford's Ed Polite Jr. grabbed 19 boards in a 2019 game vs. High Point.
Fletcher Abee finished the day with 15 points on a very efficient day shooting the ball (5-for-8 from field, 3-for-4 from 3-point range). Tajion Jones chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, while Caldwell also finished the afternoon with 12 points that included that clutch 3-pointer to force overtime.
Even though Gardner-Webb held the lead for most of regulation, Asheville never let the lead become more than a few possessions. The Runnin' Bulldogs did build their largest lead of the game to 12 with just over 18 minutes to go in regulation. However, Asheville continued to battle.
Asheville's fourth straight second half comeback was fueled by several contributors. Pember scored 13 of his 22 points in the final 20 minutes to lead the charge. The Bulldogs also got key makes from Jones, Abee, and Caldwell. A made jump shot from Abee made the score 55-53 with 1:48 to go. It marked the first time that Asheville was within one possession since 5:32 to go in the first half.
Abee hits another & its a two point game! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/0Q7rUvrprk
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 14, 2023
In an effort to try and extend the game, the Bulldogs turned up the pressure defensively. One of the results of that pressure was a key traveling call on Gardner-Webb with 27 seconds to go that gave possession back to Asheville trailing by four, 59-55.
Despite makes from Jones and Pember in the final minutes, Asheville still trailed by three points (63-60) with four seconds left. With no timeouts left, Caldwell took the in-bounds pass from Pember and launched a 3-pointer near the half court logo that found the bottom of the net to force overtime, 63-63. Playing in just its second overtime game of the season, Asheville was not fazed. The Bulldogs got key points from Pember, Amadou Sylla, and Caldwell in the extra frame. It was yet another clutch 3-pointer by Caldwell that gave Asheville a 70-67 lead with 28 seconds left.
LOUD NOISES!!!!!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/njMxcr388B
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 14, 2023
Gardner-Webb had a chance for some heroics of its own but a missed layup was collected by Pember for his 19th rebound of the day and was promptly fouled. Pember, who continues to be one of the top players in the nation from the free throw line, knocked down both attempts and sealed the Bulldog victory, 72-67.
The Bulldogs will aim to keep this hot streak rolling on Wednesday when they visit Charleston Southern in another Big South tilt. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Buccaneers is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
AVL
GW
FG%
.400
.359
3FG%
.407
.211
FT%
.656
.586
RB
43
39
TO
16
10
STL
2
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
12
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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