University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Kennesaw State
GAME PREVIEW: Men’s basketball hosts Kennesaw State in final home game of 2023
12.22.2023 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (7-6) vs. Kennesaw State (9-3)
- Saturday, December 23, 2023
- Asheville, N.C.; Kimmel Arena
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Watch Live: ESPN+
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (ESPN Asheville) | Brian Hall, play-by-play; Mike Gore, analyst
- Live Stats
- Tickets (Kids 18 and under get free entry on Saturday)
- Game Sponsor: BMW
PROMOTION
There will be an ornament-making station, a chance to enter to win a Bulldog Holiday sweater, and a contest for the best Holiday sweater, with the winner receiving a gift card to Bear's Smokehouse BBQ.
ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT
Josh Banks and Drew Pember turned in record-setting evenings to help the UNC Asheville men's basketball team to a 76-63 victory over Appalachian State in the Tarlton Complex.
Pember and Banks connected for back-to-back three-pointers to help Asheville to an early 6-0 lead. The Mountaineers tied the game at nine with a triple of their own before Banks sank back-to-back 3-pointers to put Asheville ahead by six (15-9). A layup from Caleb Burgess with 8:34 left in the half would help the Bulldogs earn a 10-point lead, but the Mountaineers brought it back down to eight points following a layup from Donovan Gregory. With 7:53 remaining, Banks would extend Asheville's lead back out to double-figures, starting with a pair of free throws, three triples, and a trip to the free throw line following the second made triple. At the end of the first half, Asheville led 44-23, and Banks had 30 points.
Asheville maintained a 20-point plus lead until a free-throw from Gregory with 6:25 remaining in the game brought the Bulldogs' lead down to 19. With 2:54 left in the contest, a triple from Terence Harcum brought App State within 12 points of Asheville's lead, but that was as close as Appalachian State would get.
BANKS' RECORD NIGHT
In the first half alone, Banks connected for nine three-pointers to tie the program's three-point record, set by Fletcher Abee earlier this season on Nov. 18. Three minutes and 37 seconds into the second half, Banks connected for his 10th triple of the evening and set a new program record for most three-pointers in a game. Banks finished 10-for-18 from the field, with all 10 baskets coming from distance, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line to finish with a career-high 33 points. Up until 13:33 remaining in the second half, Banks had more points than the entire App State offense, with his only basket in the second half being his record-breaking 10th 3-pointer.
Banks averages 13.6 points a game on the season and has a .427 3-point shooting percentage.
ADDING ANOTHER RECORD TO PEMBER'S SHELF
Pember recorded the third triple-double in program history with 15 rebounds, 11 points, and 10 assists. Pember joins LJ Thorpe, who recorded a triple-double on Feb. 10, 2020, with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Kenny George, who recorded his triple-double on Nov. 17, 2007, with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks. Pember is the 11th player in the NCAA to record a triple-double this season and the only player from the Big South. Pember has now turned in double-digit point outings in 11 of the 12 games he has played.
Pember leads the team, averaging 17.6 points a game, 7.3 rebounds, 24 blocks and 13 steals. Pember is No. 17 in the nation in free throws (65) and No. 20 in free throw attempts (83).
McMULLEN TURNS IN STRONG PERFORMANCE
Nick McMullen recorded his first double-double of the season as the senior finished the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Thursday's double-double marked McMullen's fourth double-double of his career.
McMullen is averaging 8.6 points a game and 6.2 rebounds. Alongside Pember, he leads the team with 13 steals.
ABEE ON TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD
Abee averages 12.2 points a game, leading the team with a .458 3-point shooting percentage. Abee is No. 16 in the nation in three-point percentage and No. 18 in total 3-point field goals made (38).
A HELPING HAND
Caleb Burgess leads the team and the conference in assists per game, averaging 5.1 through 13 games. He is No. 28 in the nation in assists with 66.
As a team, Asheville is No. 1 in the Big South Conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.36) and assists per game (17.2).
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Saturday will be the second time the two teams have faced off this season, as the Bulldogs suffered a 79-76 overtime loss to Kennesaw State on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Kennesaw. Pember and Banks combined for 49 points in their last outing against the Owls.
Kennesaw enters Saturday's contest on a five-game win streak dating back to Dec. 2. Their last win was a 91-59 win against Brescia on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Five Owls are averaging double-digit points per game, led by Simeon Cottle with 16.9. Cottle also leads the team with 20 steals. Demond Robinson averages 13.3 points a game and leads the team with 8.5 rebounds and 14 blocks. Terrell Burden averages 12.8 points a game and leads the team with 73 assists. Quincy Ademokoya and Jamel King round out the Owls with double-digit averages with 11.8 and 10.4 points a game.
The Owls are No. 3 in the NCAA in fastbreak points, averaging 19.58 a game, and No. 6 in three-point attempts per game, averaging 30.6.
The Owls had a 2022-23 season similar to the Bulldogs, winning both the ASUN Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Owls ASUN regular season title was the first-ever in program history. Kennesaw's NCAA Tournament appearance was the first national postseason tournament appearance since the Owls were a Division II program in the 2004-05 season. Saturday will be the second time ever that Kennesaw and Asheville have faced each other.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
2023-24 Season AVL KSU
Scoring Average 81.6 86.7
Opp. Scoring Average 74.1 76.1
Scoring Margin 7.5 10.6
FG Percentage .456 .445
3PT Percentage .370 .319
FT Percentage .687 .675
Rebounding Average 36.3 43.3
Assists Per Game 17.2 17.0
Steals Per Game 6.1 8.7
Blocks Per Game 3.9 5.0
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