University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, March 16
Sacramento, CA (Golden 1 Center)
10:05 pm
UNC Asheville
vs
UCLA
No. 15 Seed UNC Asheville Opens NCAA Tournament Play against No. 2 Seed UCLA Thursday
03.15.2023 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 15 seed UNC Asheville men's basketball team will open play in the NCAA Tournament against No. 2 seed UCLA on Thursday night in Sacramento, California. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Bruins is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. eastern time on truTV.
Promotions - If you can't make it to the game, join fellow Bulldog fans at Bear's Smokehouse, the proud postseason sponsor of Bulldog basketball, this Thursday night for a watch party. Bear's will keep their kitchen open until tip-off and drinks will be available for the game's entirety.
Last Time Out – Asheville captured its sixth Big South Tournament Championship on March 5 with a comeback victory over Campbell, 77-73. With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 27-7 on the season and earned the Big South's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Dominance from Drew - A major key in Asheville cutting down the nets in Charlotte was the play of Drew Pember. Pember averaged nearly 30 points per game for the Tournament. For his play, Pember was named the Big South Tournament MVP. Pember is the first player in Big South history to earn Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season.
National Recognition - Pember was recently named a finalist for both the Lute Olson (Top Player in Division I) and Lou Henson (Top Mid-Major Player) National Player of the Year Awards.
An Asheville All-Timer - On top of his performance in the Big South Tournament Championship Game, Tajion Jones has etched his name in the record books at UNC Asheville. Jones is the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, all-time leader in 3-pointers made, and holds the Big South records for games played and minutes played. Furthermore, Jones is the only Big South player to ever to score over 1,900 points, grab over 600 rebounds, and make over 300 3-pointers in their career.
Coach with some Kudos - UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell was recently named a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award that goes to the top Head Coach in Mid-Major College Basketball.
Back in the NCAA Tournament - The Bulldogs will be making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history. Asheville does own a pair of NCAA Tournament victories. Both occurred in Dayton in the play-in games vs. Texas Southern (92-84 - 2003) & Arkansas Little Rock (81-77 - 2011).
2023 – Year of the Bulldogs - Asheville has been dominant in 2023. The Bulldogs are 18-1 during the calendar year of 2023. Riding a nine-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament, Asheville is tied for the fifth-longest active winning streak checking in with nine wins. Furthermore, the 27 victories are the most by a Division I men's basketball team in the State of North Carolina this season.
Promotions - If you can't make it to the game, join fellow Bulldog fans at Bear's Smokehouse, the proud postseason sponsor of Bulldog basketball, this Thursday night for a watch party. Bear's will keep their kitchen open until tip-off and drinks will be available for the game's entirety.
Last Time Out – Asheville captured its sixth Big South Tournament Championship on March 5 with a comeback victory over Campbell, 77-73. With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 27-7 on the season and earned the Big South's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Dominance from Drew - A major key in Asheville cutting down the nets in Charlotte was the play of Drew Pember. Pember averaged nearly 30 points per game for the Tournament. For his play, Pember was named the Big South Tournament MVP. Pember is the first player in Big South history to earn Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season.
National Recognition - Pember was recently named a finalist for both the Lute Olson (Top Player in Division I) and Lou Henson (Top Mid-Major Player) National Player of the Year Awards.
An Asheville All-Timer - On top of his performance in the Big South Tournament Championship Game, Tajion Jones has etched his name in the record books at UNC Asheville. Jones is the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, all-time leader in 3-pointers made, and holds the Big South records for games played and minutes played. Furthermore, Jones is the only Big South player to ever to score over 1,900 points, grab over 600 rebounds, and make over 300 3-pointers in their career.
Coach with some Kudos - UNC Asheville Head Coach Mike Morrell was recently named a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award that goes to the top Head Coach in Mid-Major College Basketball.
Back in the NCAA Tournament - The Bulldogs will be making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history. Asheville does own a pair of NCAA Tournament victories. Both occurred in Dayton in the play-in games vs. Texas Southern (92-84 - 2003) & Arkansas Little Rock (81-77 - 2011).
2023 – Year of the Bulldogs - Asheville has been dominant in 2023. The Bulldogs are 18-1 during the calendar year of 2023. Riding a nine-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament, Asheville is tied for the fifth-longest active winning streak checking in with nine wins. Furthermore, the 27 victories are the most by a Division I men's basketball team in the State of North Carolina this season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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