University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 4
Spartanburg, SC
4 pm
UNC Asheville
at
USC Upstate
Men’s Basketball looks to build on its nine-game winning streak Saturday at USC Upstate
02.03.2023 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Riding a nine-game winning streak, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday when it visits USC Upstate in another Big South matchup. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Spartans is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
Gameday Information
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: ESPN Asheville
Follow: Live Stats
Last Time Out – Asheville cruised past High Point by a score of 89-63 on Thursday night at Kimmel Arena in front of over 2,000 fans and a national television audience on ESPNU. The Bulldogs improved to 18-6 overall and 10-1 in Big South play with Thursday's victory.
Sensational Streak – The nine-game winning streak for the Bulldogs matches the program record for the longest winning streak against Big South teams (2016-17 team also won nine in a row). The longest overall winning streak put together by Bulldogs is 11 games set back in 1996-97. Furthermore, Asheville is currently tied for the third-longest winning streak in Division I men's basketball with top-ranked Purdue and Louisiana who have also won nine games in a row. Only Eastern Washington (13 games), Colgate (11 games), and St. Mary's (11 games) are currently on a longer winning streak than the Bulldogs.
A Season to Re-Pember – Drew Pember is currently on pace to accomplish something that no Big South player ever has and that is to lead the league in scoring average, rebounding, and blocks for a season. Additionally, Pember ranks among the national leaders in free throws made (1st – 166), free throws attempted (2nd – 196), blocks (7th – 58), points (9th – 481), rebounds (11th – 231), and double-doubles (12th – 11). He needs just 31 more points to score 1,000 points in an Asheville uniform and 17 more made free throws to break the program's single season record.
Tajion Ready to Tally more Accomplishments – With 18 points in Thursday's win over High Point, Tajion Jones became the 18th player in Big South history and the third Bulldog to ever score 1,800 points in their career. Jones, who ranks eighth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (45.4 percent), will match the league record by appearing in his 139th game of his career on Saturday at Upstate.
About USC Upstate – USC Upstate comes into Saturday's matchup with Asheville with a 9-13 overall record that includes a 4-7 mark in Big South action. Upstate is led by the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year in Jordan Gainey. As a sophomore, Gainey is leading Upstate averaging 15.1 points per contest.
Series Rewind vs. USC Upstate – Asheville and Upstate have met a total of 23 times with the first meeting occurring all the way back in the 1970-71 season. The Bulldogs have won the last two games against the Spartans that includes a 64-58 win at Kimmel Arena a few weeks ago.
Gameday Information
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: ESPN Asheville
Follow: Live Stats
Last Time Out – Asheville cruised past High Point by a score of 89-63 on Thursday night at Kimmel Arena in front of over 2,000 fans and a national television audience on ESPNU. The Bulldogs improved to 18-6 overall and 10-1 in Big South play with Thursday's victory.
Sensational Streak – The nine-game winning streak for the Bulldogs matches the program record for the longest winning streak against Big South teams (2016-17 team also won nine in a row). The longest overall winning streak put together by Bulldogs is 11 games set back in 1996-97. Furthermore, Asheville is currently tied for the third-longest winning streak in Division I men's basketball with top-ranked Purdue and Louisiana who have also won nine games in a row. Only Eastern Washington (13 games), Colgate (11 games), and St. Mary's (11 games) are currently on a longer winning streak than the Bulldogs.
A Season to Re-Pember – Drew Pember is currently on pace to accomplish something that no Big South player ever has and that is to lead the league in scoring average, rebounding, and blocks for a season. Additionally, Pember ranks among the national leaders in free throws made (1st – 166), free throws attempted (2nd – 196), blocks (7th – 58), points (9th – 481), rebounds (11th – 231), and double-doubles (12th – 11). He needs just 31 more points to score 1,000 points in an Asheville uniform and 17 more made free throws to break the program's single season record.
Tajion Ready to Tally more Accomplishments – With 18 points in Thursday's win over High Point, Tajion Jones became the 18th player in Big South history and the third Bulldog to ever score 1,800 points in their career. Jones, who ranks eighth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (45.4 percent), will match the league record by appearing in his 139th game of his career on Saturday at Upstate.
About USC Upstate – USC Upstate comes into Saturday's matchup with Asheville with a 9-13 overall record that includes a 4-7 mark in Big South action. Upstate is led by the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year in Jordan Gainey. As a sophomore, Gainey is leading Upstate averaging 15.1 points per contest.
Series Rewind vs. USC Upstate – Asheville and Upstate have met a total of 23 times with the first meeting occurring all the way back in the 1970-71 season. The Bulldogs have won the last two games against the Spartans that includes a 64-58 win at Kimmel Arena a few weeks ago.
Players Mentioned
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