University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, March 5
Charlotte, NC (Bojangles Coliseum)
1 pm
UNC Asheville
27-7,16-2Big South
77
vs
73
Campbell
16-18,8-10Big South
1
2
F
Campbell
38
35
73
UNC Asheville
35
42
77
Bulldogs Rally to Capture the Big South Tournament Title; Asheville Punches Ticket to NCAA Tournament
03.05.2023 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit second half deficit to knock off seventh-seeded Campbell by a score of 77-73 in the 2023 Hercules Tires Big South Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. With the victory, the Bulldogs earned the Big South's automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA Tournament. It'll mark Asheville's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history and its first since 2016.
The tandem of Drew Pember and Tajion Jones led the way for the Bulldogs on Sunday. Pember scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds and was named the Big South Tournament MVP. Jones, who also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, played all 40 minutes on Sunday scoring 24 points on a 9-for-14 shooting day from the field and a 5-for-9 effort from 3-point range.
Sunday's Championship contest was back-and-forth with multiple lead changes. A key for Asheville early on was the play of Fletcher Abee. Abee scored 11 of the Bulldogs' first 13 points to help Asheville keep pace with the Camels.
Abee's production was met by 16 points from Campbell's Jay Pal and 10 more from Anthony Dell'Orso in the first half. Following Abee's hot streak to start the game, Pember carried most of the load for Asheville with 13 points to go with five rebounds. The back-and-forth first half finished with Campbell holding a three-point lead, 38-35.
Facing a halftime deficit for the second straight game, the Bulldog continued to battle. Campbell, however, kept the pressure on the top-seeded Bulldogs in the second half. At one point, Campbell built its lead to as many as 14 points, 66-52, with 7:52 to go.
Facing its largest deficit of the tournament, Asheville did not panic and chipped away at the Campbell lead. Like Abee did early, Jones caught fire and brought the Bulldogs back. The sixth-year senior scored 16 points in the final seven minutes and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with a little under a minute to go, 75-73.
The Bulldogs, now 27-7 overall, will learn of their NCAA Tournament destination next Sunday (March 12). The Selection Show will air on 6 p.m. eastern time on CBS.
The tandem of Drew Pember and Tajion Jones led the way for the Bulldogs on Sunday. Pember scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds and was named the Big South Tournament MVP. Jones, who also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, played all 40 minutes on Sunday scoring 24 points on a 9-for-14 shooting day from the field and a 5-for-9 effort from 3-point range.
Sunday's Championship contest was back-and-forth with multiple lead changes. A key for Asheville early on was the play of Fletcher Abee. Abee scored 11 of the Bulldogs' first 13 points to help Asheville keep pace with the Camels.
Fletcher is on 🔥🔥🔥🔥!!! Abee has scored 11 of Asheville's first 13 points & the Bulldogs lead Campbell, 13-11, at the first media timeout! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/ogN9NHPL3z
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) March 5, 2023
Abee's production was met by 16 points from Campbell's Jay Pal and 10 more from Anthony Dell'Orso in the first half. Following Abee's hot streak to start the game, Pember carried most of the load for Asheville with 13 points to go with five rebounds. The back-and-forth first half finished with Campbell holding a three-point lead, 38-35.
Facing a halftime deficit for the second straight game, the Bulldog continued to battle. Campbell, however, kept the pressure on the top-seeded Bulldogs in the second half. At one point, Campbell built its lead to as many as 14 points, 66-52, with 7:52 to go.
Facing its largest deficit of the tournament, Asheville did not panic and chipped away at the Campbell lead. Like Abee did early, Jones caught fire and brought the Bulldogs back. The sixth-year senior scored 16 points in the final seven minutes and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with a little under a minute to go, 75-73.
The 3-pointer from Jones gave Asheville its first lead since the 14:11 mark in the first half put the pressure on the Camels. Suddenly facing a deficit, Campbell attempted a trio of 3-pointers to try and tie or retake the lead. However, all three attempts were off the mark and Asheville got the rebound each time. Made free throws from Caleb Burgess and Pember following a couple of those rebounds helped finish off the 77-73 victory for the Bulldogs and clinch their sixth Big South Tournament Championship.TAJION TAKES THE LEAD!!!!!!!!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/oI2rhrSnVH
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) March 5, 2023
The Bulldogs, now 27-7 overall, will learn of their NCAA Tournament destination next Sunday (March 12). The Selection Show will air on 6 p.m. eastern time on CBS.
Team Stats
Campb
AVL
FG%
.468
.491
3FG%
.375
.391
FT%
.600
.667
RB
32
34
TO
7
10
STL
4
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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