University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Carolina University
GAME PREVIEW: Bulldogs set to host Bruins on Tuesday
11.13.2023 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (0-2) vs. Carolina University (1-4)
- Tuesday, November 14
- Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
- Live Stats: https://uncabulldogs.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (570 WWNC AM) | (Brian Hall, play-by-play; Mike Gore, color analyst)
- Watch: ESPN+ (Matt Stradley, play-by-play; John Williams, color analyst)
- Tickets
GAME GIVEAWAYS: Clear bags and fanny packs
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs are looking to pick up their first win of the season on Tuesday, as they fell in their season opener at Michigan 99-74 and their home opener against UNC Wilmington 83-66. Saturday's loss to the Seahawks was Asheville's first loss at home since February 2022. Drew Pember notched his 17th career double-double, finishing the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds, additionally leading the team with six assists. Nick McMullen also reached double figures by scoring 10 points, with Toyaz Solomon scoring nine points, Fletcher Abee finishing with eight, and Caleb Burgess finishing the day with seven points.
Wilmington took charge in the first half, outshooting Asheville 42.9% to 28.6% to enter the second half ahead 45-26.
In the second half, Wilmington extended their lead to as many as 27 points before two made free-throws from Fletcher Abee and a 3-pointer from Evan Johnson triggered an 18-3 run for Asheville, cutting Wilmington's lead back down to 12 points with two minutes remaining. A dunk and jump shot from Solomon followed Johnson's triple, but despite cutting down UNCW's lead, Asheville was unable to complete a comeback. The Bulldogs outshot UNCW in the paint 32-28 and 11-8 on fast breaks, but the Seahawks outscored Asheville 33-20 off the bench and in second-chance shots (14-11).
PLAYER TO WATCH: DREW PEMBER
In the first two games of the season, Pember scored 19 points in both games and is averaging seven rebounds.
NEWCOMERS TO LOOK FOR
Josh Banks and Evan Johnson follow Pember in points scored, as Banks averages 10 points a game and Johnson averages nine. Banks leads the team with a 3-point shooting percentage of .444.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Carolina University is an NCCAA institution located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The institution was once named Piedmont International University but switched its name to Carolina University in June 2020.
This will be the first time Asheville and Carolina face each other on the court. Carolina went 14-13 (5-4 NCCAA) in the 2022-23 season and fell to Clinton College in the semi-final round of the NCCAA South Region Tournament.
So far this season, senior Ethan Bell leads the Bruins with 68 points across five games, with a 13.6 points per game average, and sophomore Cameron Parker follows with 64 points, averaging 12.8 per game. Adam Claybourne is also a player to watch, with 22 rebounds, averaging 11.4 points per game.
Freshman Caden Fitzgibbons has started his collegiate career off strong, scoring 18 points, adding two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in the team's season opener against Lindsey Wilson.
BULLDOG GAME DAY REMINDERS
- Doors will open one hour before tip-off.
- UNC Asheville has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for athletics events. CLICK HERE to read the policy.
- To avoid waiting in line at the box office, fans can purchase tickets through their phones and show their ticket on their screens to be scanned upon entering the arena. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville men's basketball, follow the team on 𝕩.
