University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, January 21
Asheville, NC
2 pm
UNC Asheville
15-6,7-1Big South
64
vs
58
USC Upstate
9-10,4-4Big South
1
2
F
USC Upstate
29
29
58
UNC Asheville
26
38
64
Asheville downs USC Upstate, 64-58, for its Sixth Straight Win
01.21.2023 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team battled back from an early deficit to upend USC Upstate by a score of 64-58 on Saturday afternoon at Kimmel Arena. The victory, which is Asheville's sixth straight and improves the team's record at home to 8-0 this season, boosts the Bulldogs' overall record to 15-6 and 7-1 in Big South play.
Drew Pember notched another double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) to help fuel Saturday's win over Upstate. Pember, who also totaled four steals and dished out a pair of assists on the day, has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games and has recorded a double-double in four of his last five games. Caleb Burgess also had a stellar game for the Bulldogs finishing with 14 points on an efficient 4-for-7 day from the field to go with a team-high five assists.
Neither team started well offensively on Saturday. The two squads did not top 32 percent shooting from the field in the first half. However, Upstate at one point was able to put together a 13-0 run on the Bulldogs. The Spartans did most of their damage inside, doubling up the Bulldogs in paint points (16 to 8) in the first 20 minutes and scored seven second chance points as well. Asheville, like it has done multiple times already in conference play, battled back and trailed by just three points, 29-26, after 20 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs continued to battle back in the second half. Asheville took advantage of 13 turnovers by Upstate to help fuel its comeback. The Bulldogs scored 20 points in the second half after a Spartan turnover.
Even with the influx of Upstate turnovers and the Bulldogs taking advantage, it was a two-point game with 1:12 to go in regulation after the Spartans made a pair of free throws. Turnovers by both teams were followed by the Asheville tandem of Fletcher Abee and Pember going 4-for-4 from the free throw line to finish off the 64-58 win against Upstate. The Bulldogs went 14-for-18 from the free throw line in the second half and Pember scored 14 of his 20 points to help finish off Asheville's sixth straight victory.
Next up for the Bulldogs will be a matchup on Wednesday when they welcome Presbyterian to Kimmel Arena. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Drew Pember notched another double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) to help fuel Saturday's win over Upstate. Pember, who also totaled four steals and dished out a pair of assists on the day, has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games and has recorded a double-double in four of his last five games. Caleb Burgess also had a stellar game for the Bulldogs finishing with 14 points on an efficient 4-for-7 day from the field to go with a team-high five assists.
Neither team started well offensively on Saturday. The two squads did not top 32 percent shooting from the field in the first half. However, Upstate at one point was able to put together a 13-0 run on the Bulldogs. The Spartans did most of their damage inside, doubling up the Bulldogs in paint points (16 to 8) in the first 20 minutes and scored seven second chance points as well. Asheville, like it has done multiple times already in conference play, battled back and trailed by just three points, 29-26, after 20 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs continued to battle back in the second half. Asheville took advantage of 13 turnovers by Upstate to help fuel its comeback. The Bulldogs scored 20 points in the second half after a Spartan turnover.
Even with the influx of Upstate turnovers and the Bulldogs taking advantage, it was a two-point game with 1:12 to go in regulation after the Spartans made a pair of free throws. Turnovers by both teams were followed by the Asheville tandem of Fletcher Abee and Pember going 4-for-4 from the free throw line to finish off the 64-58 win against Upstate. The Bulldogs went 14-for-18 from the free throw line in the second half and Pember scored 14 of his 20 points to help finish off Asheville's sixth straight victory.
Next up for the Bulldogs will be a matchup on Wednesday when they welcome Presbyterian to Kimmel Arena. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
USCU
AVL
FG%
.351
.388
3FG%
.238
.250
FT%
.722
.742
RB
40
36
TO
19
15
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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