GAME PREVIEW: Men’s basketball faces App State in Hickory on Thursday

GAME DETAILS

UNC Asheville (6-6) vs. App State (9-2)
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Hickory, N.C.; Tarlton Complex
Time: 7 p.m.
Watch Live: ESPN+
Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (570 WWNC AM)
Live Stats

ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT

Asheville returned to the win column with a 79-75 victory over South Carolina State Monday night in Kimmel Arena.

Trent Stephney was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, finishing with 13 points. Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee led the team with 17 points apiece, with Banks connecting for four triples (a season-high) and Abee connecting for five. Drew Pember finished the evening with 14 points, five assists, and a game-high five blocks.

Banks and Davion Cunningham led Asheville with seven rebounds apiece, and Caleb Burgess matched Pember for a team-high of five assists.

South Carolina State entered Monday's contest at No. 5 in the nation in offensive rebounding. The Bulldogs limited SC State to seven offensive boards, while Asheville recorded 10.

Monday night's game was a theme of runs. In the first half, a triple from Stephney helped Asheville to its largest lead at six points (16-10) before SC State would go on a 7-1 run to tie the game at 17. There would be three ties and five lead changes over the next 3:02 of action, with SC State taking a 2-point lead and remaining ahead for the rest of the half. The Bulldogs from South Carolina would extend their lead out by as many as four, but a pair of free throws from Cunningham would cut SC State's lead down to two at the end of the half (36-34).

Pember sparked momentum for Asheville, starting the second frame with a dunk to tie the score at 36. He was followed by back-to-back triples from Banks to put Asheville ahead by six (42-36).

The Bulldogs extended their lead to eight, but a 9-0 run from SC State put them ahead 47-46. With 10:50 remaining in the contest, Abee returned the momentum to Asheville, sparking an 18-1 run to put the Bulldogs ahead 69-54. Abee recorded four 3-pointers, and Stephney recorded one in Asheville's run.

The Bulldogs entered the final five minutes of action with a 15-point lead, but SC State did not go down without a fight, as they went on a 17-4 run over the next 3:51 to bring Asheville's lead down to two (75-73). Leading by two with 16 seconds remaining, an offensive foul on Pember would give SC State possession of the ball. With five seconds left, Pember blocked a shot from SC State's Mitchell Taylor, and the ball went out of bounds off Taylor, returning the possession to Asheville. Abee was fouled on the inbound and sank his free throws to help the Bulldogs retake a two-possession lead and secure the victory.

BULLDOG LEADERBOARD

Pember continues to lead Asheville's offense, averaging 18.2 points per game, and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game and 22 blocks. Pember is five blocks away from 200 career blocks at Asheville.

Fletcher Abee averages the second most points with 12.7 points per game and leads the team and Big South with a .462 3-point percentage. Josh Banks is the final Bulldog, averaging double-digit points with 12 points per game. Caleb Burgess leads the team with 61 assists and leads the Big South, averaging 5.1 a game.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

App State enters Thursday's contest at No. 8 on the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25. The Mountaineers have picked up wins over UNC Wilmington and Auburn. The Bulldogs fell to UNCW in their home opener on Nov. 11 and lost to Auburn on Dec. 13 in Huntsville, Ala.

App State is currently No. 4 in the nation in defensive rebounds per game, averaging 32.09 defensive boards a game. The Mountaineers are also ranked No. 2 in the nation in field goal percentage defense, limiting their opponents to a .355 field goal percentage.

App State is currently on an eight-game winning streak, with their last win being an 80-59 victory against Big South Conference rival Gardner-Webb on Dec. 16.

Donovan Gregory leads App in scoring, averaging 13.5 points a game, and is second on the team in assists with 33. The Mountaineers' leading 3-point shooter is Christopher Mantis, with a .387 3-point shooting percentage. Justin Abson leads the team with 31 blocks, and Tre'Von Spillers leads App with 7.6 rebounds a game.

FIRST MATCHUP IN OVER TWO DECADES

This will be the first time Appalachian and Asheville have faced off in 22 years, as the two teams last played on Dec. 30, 2001, with Asheville winning 79-76. The Mountaineers have an 8-14 series lead over the Bulldogs. The first time the two teams squared off was during the 1967-68 season.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

2023-24 Season AVL APP

Scoring Average 82.1     81.1
Opp. Scoring Average   75.0     62.9
Scoring Margin     7.1     18.2
FG Percentage    .457     .481
3PT Percentage .355 .333
FT Percentage .692     .667
Rebounding Average   35.5     43.2
Assists Per Game 17.3     16.5
Steals Per Game 6.3     6.7
Blocks Per Game 4.0 6.8

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