University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Wednesday, January 25
Asheville, NC
6:30 pm
UNC Asheville
16-6,8-1Big South
88
vs
80
Presbyterian
5-17,1-8Big South
1
2
OT 1
F
Presbyterian
34
39
7
80
UNC Asheville
42
31
15
88
Pember’s Record-Breaking Night Lifts Asheville Past Presbyterian, 88-80, in Overtime
01.25.2023 | Men's Basketball
HIGHLIGHTS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville's Drew Pember had a performance for the ages on Wednesday night at Kimmel Arena against Presbyterian. Pember scored a school record 48 points, matched the school's 3-pointers made in a single game record (eight) to go along with 12 rebounds, and two blocks to help lead the Bulldog men's basketball team to an 88-80 victory over the Blue Hose in overtime.
Pember's 48 points not only breaks the school record of the most points scored in a game, which was previously 44 points set by Mickey Gibson during the 1969-70 season, but it also marks the most points scored by any Division I men's basketball player this season. Furthermore, Pember's 48 points established a new single game record for the most points scored in a game played inside Kimmel Arena.
The win is Asheville's seventh in the row as it improves to 8-1 in Big South play. The Bulldogs also remain unbeaten at home this season (9-0). The last time Asheville won seven games in a row was during the 2017-18 season.
Pember wasted little time in scoring points in bunches on Wednesday as he scored Asheville's first 15 points of the game. All 15 of those points came via a 3-pointer.
The hot start by Pember, who finished the first half with 27 points on a 9-for-15 effort from the field that included a 7-for-8 outing from beyond the arc, led Asheville to an early lead against the Blue Hose. The Bulldogs saw their lead grow to as many as 12 points in the opening half. However, PC was able to close the gap to eight points, 42-34, at the break.
The Blue Hose continued to come at the Bulldogs in the second half. Presbyterian reeled off a 12-2 run to tie the score and briefly take the lead to start the half. The two teams would continue to jostle with the lead for the remainder of regulation. Overall, there were seven lead changes in the second half.
Presbyterian led by as many as five points, but Asheville quickly got it back within one possession. A clutch 3-pointer from Tajion Jones made the score 69-69 with 3:42 to go.
Both teams had opportunity to take the lead in the final minute and a half but neither squad found the bottom of the net and the two teams went into overtime.
Once the overtime period began, the Bulldogs again turned to Pember. The Knoxville, Tennessee native scored 10 of Asheville's 15 points in overtime period to finish off the 88-80 victory. Caleb Burgess also netted five of his seven points on the night in the extra period.
On top of Pember's performance, the Bulldogs also received a 13-point outing from Jones and Burgess nearly had a double-double with seven points and nine assists.
Asheville, now 16-6 overall and 8-1 in Big South play, will return to action on Saturday when it visits Campbell in another Big South matchup. The Bulldogs, who defeated the Camels by a score of 58-55 earlier this month, and Campbell are scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN+.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville's Drew Pember had a performance for the ages on Wednesday night at Kimmel Arena against Presbyterian. Pember scored a school record 48 points, matched the school's 3-pointers made in a single game record (eight) to go along with 12 rebounds, and two blocks to help lead the Bulldog men's basketball team to an 88-80 victory over the Blue Hose in overtime.
Pember's 48 points not only breaks the school record of the most points scored in a game, which was previously 44 points set by Mickey Gibson during the 1969-70 season, but it also marks the most points scored by any Division I men's basketball player this season. Furthermore, Pember's 48 points established a new single game record for the most points scored in a game played inside Kimmel Arena.
Drew Pember for @UNCAvlMBB tonight:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 26, 2023
48 points
12 rebounds
8 threes made
He's the only Division I player in the last 25 years to reach all those numbers in a game.
The only NBA player ever to do so is James Harden on 12/31/2016 in the only 50/15/15 triple-double in NBA history.
The win is Asheville's seventh in the row as it improves to 8-1 in Big South play. The Bulldogs also remain unbeaten at home this season (9-0). The last time Asheville won seven games in a row was during the 2017-18 season.
Pember wasted little time in scoring points in bunches on Wednesday as he scored Asheville's first 15 points of the game. All 15 of those points came via a 3-pointer.
PEMBER AGAIN!!! 5-for-5 from 3-point range & he has all 15 of Asheville's points so far! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/7WeEnDYpxj
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 25, 2023
The hot start by Pember, who finished the first half with 27 points on a 9-for-15 effort from the field that included a 7-for-8 outing from beyond the arc, led Asheville to an early lead against the Blue Hose. The Bulldogs saw their lead grow to as many as 12 points in the opening half. However, PC was able to close the gap to eight points, 42-34, at the break.
The Blue Hose continued to come at the Bulldogs in the second half. Presbyterian reeled off a 12-2 run to tie the score and briefly take the lead to start the half. The two teams would continue to jostle with the lead for the remainder of regulation. Overall, there were seven lead changes in the second half.
Presbyterian led by as many as five points, but Asheville quickly got it back within one possession. A clutch 3-pointer from Tajion Jones made the score 69-69 with 3:42 to go.
Jones' 3-pointer was followed by a couple made field goals from PC. Pember made a couple of free throws before Jones slammed one with authority to tie the game again at 73 with 1:28 to go.TAJION TIES IT WITH A THREE!!!!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/57mqEDTV9p
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 26, 2023
Both teams had opportunity to take the lead in the final minute and a half but neither squad found the bottom of the net and the two teams went into overtime.
Once the overtime period began, the Bulldogs again turned to Pember. The Knoxville, Tennessee native scored 10 of Asheville's 15 points in overtime period to finish off the 88-80 victory. Caleb Burgess also netted five of his seven points on the night in the extra period.
PEMBER FOR THREEEEEEE! Pember ties the school record for points in a game with 44 & for the most 3-pointers in a single game with eight!!!!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/r5Xn3ChsBE
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 26, 2023
On top of Pember's performance, the Bulldogs also received a 13-point outing from Jones and Burgess nearly had a double-double with seven points and nine assists.
Asheville, now 16-6 overall and 8-1 in Big South play, will return to action on Saturday when it visits Campbell in another Big South matchup. The Bulldogs, who defeated the Camels by a score of 58-55 earlier this month, and Campbell are scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Presb
AVL
FG%
.459
.475
3FG%
.455
.500
FT%
.700
.769
RB
36
32
TO
14
10
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
48
FGM
14
3FGM
8
FTM
12
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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