University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
12-8,4-1Big South
Winthrop
13-7,4-1Big South
Bulldogs Soar Over Eagles in ESPNU Victory
01.18.2024 | Men's Basketball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – In one of the more intense rivalries in the Big South Conference, the UNC Asheville Bulldogs left Winthrop Coliseum with the win, as the Bulldogs defeated Winthrop 82-77 Thursday evening.
MONUMENTAL WIN FOR THE DOGS
Thursday marked the league's second ESPNU Wildcard Game of the season and Asheville and Winthrop's eighth all-time ESPNU matchup. Asheville's victory in Rock Hill is the Bulldogs' second victory in the coliseum since 2011. The Bulldogs defeated Winthrop in Rock Hill on Jan. 29, 2021, when fan attendance was not allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Asheville's victory on Thursday was the first victory for the Bulldogs with a crowd in attendance since Dec. 31, 2011.
With Thursday's win, Asheville now has a two-game win streak over the Eagles, which marks the first time Asheville has earned back-to-back victories over Winthrop since the 2012-2013 seasons.
A PEMBER DOUBLE
Drew Pember led all scorers with 29 points and recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 13 rebounds. Pember went 8-for-14 from the field and was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line. In conference play, Pember is 57-for-59 from the charity stripe. Pember added four assists and two blocks to his stat line.
BANKS SECURES THE LEAD
Josh Banks scored 14 points, going 4-for-7 from the field and 2-for-3 from distance. With the game tied at 70, Banks connected for a triple to put Asheville ahead and help propel the Bulldogs to victory, as Asheville held the lead for the remainder of the contest.
🥶🥶🥶
— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) January 19, 2024
📺 | ESPNU#BigSouthMBB x @UNCAvlMBB pic.twitter.com/sg1Gavey7X
BURGESS STAYS STEADY
Caleb Burgess finished the evening with 12 points, going 5-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the 3-point arc. Burgess helped spark Asheville's late-game comeback with a driving layup to tie the game at 70. Burgess added three assists and two steals to his stat line.
Caleb with the drive! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/raHQFMxxAS
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 19, 2024
STEPHNEY TIPS THE MOMENTUM
Trent Stephney was perfect from the field once again, going 3-for-3, with all three baskets coming from distance. Down by five with 8:10 left in the game, Stephney connected for back-to-back triples to bring Asheville within one of Winthrop's lead. Stephney finished with 11 points.
If you think you're seeing deja vu, it's because you are. Stephney 👌 #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/o72Xftlnfb
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 19, 2024
ABEE'S THREES COME IN HAND
Fletcher Abee finished with 10 points and went 4-for-13 from the field, with two baskets coming from distance.
AS A TEAM
After being outshot from the field in the first half, Asheville stormed back in the second half and finished the game with a .531 shooting percentage. Asheville was 11-for-26 from the field in the first half and 15-for-23 in the second half. Winthrop finished with a .471 shooting percentage. The Eagles entered halftime shooting .640 in the first half but went 8-for-26 from the field in the second frame.
Both teams connected for 10 triples, and the Bulldogs went 20-for-29 from the charity stripe while the Eagles went 19-for-27.
WINTRHOP'S NUMBERS
The Eagles were led by Kelton Talford, who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Nick Johnson, who finished with 20 points.
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
Winthrop opened Thursday's contest on an 8-2 run, but the Bulldogs would follow with an 11-3 run to tie the game at 12. Pember connected for a 3-pointer and was fouled less than 20 seconds later, sending him to the free throw line, where he would sink both shots.
GG ➡️ DP 🪣#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/9Myo0W7O9L
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 19, 2024
The Eagles would go on to retake the lead and hold it for the remainder of the half, going on an 8-0 run to extend their lead out to 10 with 4:34 remaining. Stephney would end Winthrop's run with a three-pointer, but the Eagles went into the break leading by seven (43-36).
Asheville made quick work out of the break, bringing Winthrops' lead down to two following a layup and a trip to the free throw line for Banks (47-45). Asheville tied the game at 49 following a jumper from Abee. Winthrop regained its lead, before Abee sank a triple to help the Bulldogs earn its first lead of the half (52-51).
Abee with the jumper, and we got a tied ballgame, folks! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/kJSSEuHxeN
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 19, 2024
Over the next three minutes, there would be two ties and three lead changes before both teams went scoreless for over two minutes. With 7:59 remaining, Stephney connected for back-to-back triples to help cut Winthrops' lead down to one (66-65). The Eagles retook the lead before Burgess' driving layup evened the score at 70. Following a missed free throw from Burgess, Pember secured the rebound and found Banks on the perimeter, where he connected for the lead-securing basket.
UP NEXT
With Thursday's win, Asheville advances to 12-8 (4-1 Big South). The Bulldogs will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 24, as they host Radford in Kimmel Arena at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday's contest will be Asheville's Coaches vs. Cancer game. The Big South Trophy will be making its tour stop in Asheville on Jan. 24, and the game will be a Blue Out, with the first 800 fans in attendance receiving a men's basketball replica jersey. Fans can purchase tickets to Wednesday's contest by clicking HERE.
