University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Winthrop
GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Prepares for ESPNU Game at Winthrop
01.17.2024 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (11-8, 3-1) vs. Winthrop (13-6, 4-0)
- Thursday, January 18, 2024
- Rock Hill, S.C. || Winthrop Coliseum
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Watch Live: ESPNU | PxP: Matt Schick, Analyst: Paul Biancardi
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (570 WWNC AM) | PxP: Brian Hall, Analyst: Mike Gore
- Live Stats
- Tickets
- Game Notes
ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT
UNC Asheville men's basketball earned a hard-fought victory on Saturday, Jan. 13, as they defeated Longwood University 65-61 in Kimmel Arena.
Saturday's contest featured six ties and 16 lead changes. After going back and forth with the Lancers, Davion Cunningham, with 8:45 left in the first half, sparked an 8-0 run to put the Bulldogs ahead 20-13. Asheville held the lead for the remainder of the half, extending it out by as many as nine before entering the break ahead by five (33-28).
Longwood's offense came out hot in the second frame, with back-to-back layups making it a one-point game a minute and a half back into action (33-32). McMullen would extend the Bulldogs back out to a four-point lead following a jumper and a made shot from the free throw line, but Longwood would follow by scoring back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 40. The lead would change nine times over the next five minutes of action.
With 3:15 left in the game, the Lancers extended their lead to six points; however, it ended up being Longwood's final basket of the night, as Asheville closed the contest on a 10-0 run. A jumper from Nick McMullen started Asheville's comeback, and a free throw from Drew Pember, followed by a layup from Greg Gantt Jr., would cut Longwood's lead down to one (61-60). McMullen went on to score the game-tying free throw, and Pember would close the game out with four free throws to help Asheville on to victory.
STEPHNEY'S STANDOUT PERFORMANCE
Trent Stephney made his first appearance in the starting five this season against Longwood and had a perfect day from the field, recording a game-high and season-high 15 points. Stephney recorded a season-high 36 minutes of action and went 3-for-3 from the field, with all three shots coming from distance. He also was 6-for-6 from the free throw line and added five assists, three rebounds, and one steal to his day. Stephney is averaging 4.3 points a game.
BANKS' THREE TIPS MOMENTUM
Josh Banks finished Saturday's contest against Longwood with 13 points, going 4-for-10 from the field and connecting for one triple. Banks' triple was less than 30 seconds after a triple from Stephney to finish off an 8-0 run by Asheville. Banks is one of two Bulldogs who has played and started in all 19 games this season and is second on the team, averaging 13.1 points and has a .404 3-point field goal percentage.
PEMBER LEADS FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Drew Pember recorded 12 points against Longwood and averages 20.1 points a game, leading both Asheville and the Big South. Pember is No. 1 in the nation in made free throws, as he has made 139. He is No. 2 in the country and No. 1 in the Big South in free throw attempts with 161. Pember checks in at No. 11 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big South in points with 361.
Along with leading the team in points scored, Pember also leads the team in rebounds per game with 7.2 and 36 blocks. Pember has finished with double-digit points scored in 17 of the 18 games he's played.
McMULLEN ON HOT STREAK
Nick McMullen finished with 10 points and is averaging 10.6 points per game. McMullen leads the team with 19 steals and a .617 field-goal percentage.
McMullen has turned in double-digit outings for the last seven games.
ABEE LEADS FROM THE PERIMETER
Fletcher Abee averages 10.6 points and leads the team with a .441 3-point percentage.
Abee is No. 2 in the Big South in 3-pointers per game (2.37) and in total 3-point field goals made with 45.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Caleb Burgess leads the team with 92 assists and averages 4.8 per game, earning him the top spot in the Big South in both categories.
AS A TEAM
Asheville is No. 1 in the Big South in assists per game (16.3), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29), and blocks per game (4.2). Asheville is No. 6 in the NCAA in free throws made per game (19.3) and No. 8 in free throw attempts per game (26.1).
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Winthrop enters Thursday's contest following a 92-88 triple overtime victory against Radford on Jan. 13. Winthrop and High Point are the only two teams that remain undefeated in conference play.
Kelton Talford leads Winthrop, averaging 13.6 points a game and a .606 field goal percentage. Kasen Harrison leads Winthrop with 69 assists, Nick Johnson leads with 28 steals, and the Eagles' leading 3-point shooter is K.J. Doucet, who has a .407 3-point shooting percentage. Under the basket, Alex Timmerman leads the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.
As a team, Winthrop is No. 1 in the conference and No. 2 in the country in free throw attempts per game with 28.1, is No. 2 in the league, and is No. 3 in the country in free throws made per game with 19.9. The Eagles also check in at No. 1 in the league in three-point percentage defense.
SERIES HISTORY
- Overall- Winthrop leads 48-38
- Morrell vs. Winthrop - 2-7
- First Meeting (D1 Era) - W 63-55 1/21/1988
- Last Meeting- W 86-79 2/8/2023
- Last UNC Asheville Win- Feb. 8, 2023
- Last Winthrop Win- Dec. 31, 2022
- Series Record at Winthrop- 11-28 (D1 era)
- Series Record at UNC Asheville- 21-16 (D1 era)
- Series Record at Neutral Sites- 3-3
- Series Streak- UNC Asheville W1
- Last 10 Matchups- 3-7
- Largest Margin of Victory- W 91-68 1/23/91
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
|
2023-24 Season |
AVL |
WU |
|
Scoring Average |
81.5 |
79.3 |
|
Opp. Scoring Average |
74.5 |
69.3 |
|
Scoring Margin |
7.0 |
10.0 |
|
FG Percentage |
.460 |
.460 |
|
3PT Percentage |
.364 |
.350 |
|
FT Percentage |
.739 |
.710 |
|
Rebounding Average |
36.6 |
37.4 |
|
Assists Per Game |
16.3 |
12.2 |
|
Steals Per Game |
5.9 |
6.8 |
|
Blocks Per Game |
4.2 |
2.7 |
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