University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Wednesday, January 4
High Point, NC
7 pm
UNC Asheville
10-6,2-1Big South
76
at
72
High Point
8-7,0-3Big South
1
2
F
UNC Asheville
28
48
76
High Point
37
35
72
Bulldogs rally in the second half to down High Point, 76-72
01.04.2023 | Men's Basketball
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Facing a nine-point deficit at halftime, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team battled back in the second half to pick up a key 76-72 road victory at High Point on Wednesday night. With Wednesday's win, Asheville improves to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in Big South action.
Drew Pember led all scorers on Wednesday scoring 28 points to go with seven rebounds, and four assists. Pember, who ranks top 10 nationally in both free throws made and attempted, went 12-for-17 from the line on the night. Nick McMullen added 15 points to go with six rebounds, while Tajion Jones recorded a double-double with a 13-point, 14-rebound effort. It marked his first double-double since last February when he scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in another game at High Point. Setting up Pember, McMullen, Jones and the rest of the Bulldogs was Caleb Burgess with a team-high eight assists.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead on the Panthers to begin Wednesday's contest. However, Asheville's offense cooled off a bit, which allowed High Point to quickly come back. An 8-0 run by the Panthers with a little under four minutes to go in the half seemed to swing the momentum their way as they led by nine points, 37-28, when the two teams headed to the locker room.
When the game resumed for the second half, the Bulldogs jumped on High Point. A 4-for-4 effort from beyond the arc fueled a 14-4 run by Asheville to quickly erase the Panther advantage. The rally by the Bulldogs was capped by a slam dunk from Amadou Sylla to give Asheville its first lead since the early going, 42-41.
The Bulldogs saw their lead grow to as many as 10 points in the second half, but the Panthers continued to hang around. Late in the game, High Point hit a free throw with 12 seconds to go to make the score 72-71 Bulldogs. To prolong the game, the Panthers turned to fouling. Jones and Pember, however, went 4-for-4 from the line to finish off the 76-72 comeback win for the Bulldogs. The two makes by Pember at the end not only capped a 28-point evening but 20 of those points came in the second half to help power the comeback.
Asheville will return home to Kimmel Arena on Saturday as it continues Big South play with a matchup against Campbell. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Camels is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Drew Pember led all scorers on Wednesday scoring 28 points to go with seven rebounds, and four assists. Pember, who ranks top 10 nationally in both free throws made and attempted, went 12-for-17 from the line on the night. Nick McMullen added 15 points to go with six rebounds, while Tajion Jones recorded a double-double with a 13-point, 14-rebound effort. It marked his first double-double since last February when he scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in another game at High Point. Setting up Pember, McMullen, Jones and the rest of the Bulldogs was Caleb Burgess with a team-high eight assists.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead on the Panthers to begin Wednesday's contest. However, Asheville's offense cooled off a bit, which allowed High Point to quickly come back. An 8-0 run by the Panthers with a little under four minutes to go in the half seemed to swing the momentum their way as they led by nine points, 37-28, when the two teams headed to the locker room.
When the game resumed for the second half, the Bulldogs jumped on High Point. A 4-for-4 effort from beyond the arc fueled a 14-4 run by Asheville to quickly erase the Panther advantage. The rally by the Bulldogs was capped by a slam dunk from Amadou Sylla to give Asheville its first lead since the early going, 42-41.
Amadou slams it home & your Bulldogs take the lead! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/eoYzMSW4Uw
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 5, 2023
The Bulldogs saw their lead grow to as many as 10 points in the second half, but the Panthers continued to hang around. Late in the game, High Point hit a free throw with 12 seconds to go to make the score 72-71 Bulldogs. To prolong the game, the Panthers turned to fouling. Jones and Pember, however, went 4-for-4 from the line to finish off the 76-72 comeback win for the Bulldogs. The two makes by Pember at the end not only capped a 28-point evening but 20 of those points came in the second half to help power the comeback.
Asheville will return home to Kimmel Arena on Saturday as it continues Big South play with a matchup against Campbell. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Camels is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
AVL
HP
FG%
.426
.446
3FG%
.333
.278
FT%
.656
.531
RB
34
42
TO
13
13
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
12
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballHighlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #5 Longwood (Big South Tournament)
Monday, March 18
Highlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Gardner-Webb (Big South Tournament)
Monday, March 18
Highlights || Men's Basketball || #2 UNC Asheville vs #7 Charleston Southern (Big South Tournament)
Thursday, March 14
Highlights || Men's Basketball || UNC Asheville at Radford
Monday, March 04