University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-8,2-1Big South
High Point
14-4,3-0Big South
Late Push Not Enough as Men’s Basketball Falls to High Point, 84-79
01.10.2024 | Men's Basketball
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team traveled to face High Point University Wednesday evening in the Qubein Center and fell to the Panthers 84-79.
BY THE NUMBERS
Drew Pember led all scorers with 36 points, adding eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and two steals to his stat line. Pember was 10-for-23 from the field, connected for four triples, and was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line.
Nick McMullen followed with 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block, and Josh Banks rounded out the Bulldogs in double-figure scoring with 11 points, tacking on five rebounds.
Greg Gantt Jr. led the team with 10 rebounds, and Caleb Burgess led the team with five assists.
The Bulldogs finished with a .375 shooting percentage, going 24-for-64 from the field. Asheville connected for seven 3-pointers and went 24-for-31 at the charity stripe (.774).
High Point was led by Duke Miles with 28 points, and Juslin Bodo Bodo led the game with 14 rebounds. The Panthers finished with a .368 shooting percentage, eight triples, and went 34-for-39 from the free throw line.
ON THE COURT
Asheville held an early 7-4 lead over High Point before the Panthers' offense sparked an 8-0 run to jump ahead by five with 13:11 left in the first half. High Point extended their lead by double figures, following back-to-back triples (23-13).
High Point held its double-figure lead over the next 5:47 until a foul sent Banks to the line, where he connected with both shots, bringing the score within eight (34-26). High Point attempted to extend their lead back to double-figures, but a triple from Banks and a shot in the paint from Burgess made it a one-possession game, as Asheville trailed by three entering the second half (40-37).
The Panthers opened the second frame on a 13-5 run, extending their lead out to 11 (53-42). High Point did not lead by more than 11 and held no less than a two-possession lead until 2:22 left in the game. Fletcher Abee was fouled and sent to the free throw line, with his second shot bringing the score within three points (76-73). Less than 10 seconds later, Pember appeared at the free throw line, sinking both of his shots to bring the score within one; however, this would be as close as Asheville would get, as the Panthers answered with back-to-back field goals, and the Bulldogs were unable to perform the comeback.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 13, as they host Longwood inside Kimmel Arena at 2 p.m.
