University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
14-8,6-1Big South
Charleston Southern
6-14,2-5Big South
Men’s Basketball Holds Off Late Buccaneer Push to Secure Win
01.27.2024 | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – There is never an easy Saturday in the Big South, and the UNC Asheville men's basketball team rose to the test as the Bulldogs traveled to face Charleston Southern and defeated the Buccaneers 71-65.
Asheville advances to 14-8 and 6-1 in conference play, extending their win streak to four.
PEMBER DROPS 30
Drew Pember led the Bulldogs' offensive efforts with 30 points, recording a season-high five 3-pointers and 11 field goals, as he went 11-for-24 from the field and 5-for-9 from distance. Pember added eight rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal to his final stat line.
Pember has recorded double-digit points in 20 of the 21 games he's played this season.
McMULLEN & BURGESS RECORD DOUBLE-DIGIT OUTINGS
Nick McMullen and Caleb Burgess found their way into the double-digit scoring column with 12 and 10 points apiece. McMullen was 5-for-9 from the field and added six rebounds to his stat line, and Burgess recorded six assists. Burgess has recorded double-digit points in the last three games, and McMullen has turned in double-digit outings in nine of the previous 10 contests.
BLOCKSFEST
Asheville recorded seven blocks against the Buccaneers, with Toyaz Solomon leading the way with three and Jamon Battle recording two.
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs finished 28-for-60 (.467) from the field and 6-for-17 (.353) from the 3-point range. Asheville outshot Charleston Southern, who finished 28-for-72 from the field (.389) and 4-for-19 (.211) from 3-point range. At the free throw line, the Bulldogs shot .563, and the Buccaneers shot .417.
Asheville outshot the Buccaneers 40 to 34 from the paint, 10 to six off turnovers, and 16 to 1 off fast break points. Charleston Southern outscored Asheville 19 to 11 on second-chance points, as Charleston Southern recorded 23 offensive rebounds compared to Asheville's eight.
ON THE COURT
Asheville opened the game 7-0, with Pember scoring the first five points and McMullen following with a layup. Asheville extended their lead out to nine, which would end up being their largest lead of the game, as CSU went on an 11-2 run to take a 17-15 lead. Asheville regained the lead 22-20 following a triple from Josh Banks. Charleston Southern tied the score twice over the final six minutes of the first half but never retook the lead, as Asheville closed the half on a 6-2 run to enter the second half ahead 32-28.
Asheville began the second half on a 6-1 run sparked and ending with a layup from Burgess. Asheville held at least a two-possession lead over the first 10 minutes of action, but a 9-1 run by Charleston Southern cut Asheville's lead down to one with 9:40 remaining (50-49). The Bulldogs extended their lead back out to five points, but the Buccaneers responded with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the half (57-56).
Asheville called a timeout following CSU's run, and out of the timeout, Pember sank back-to-back triples to help Asheville retake a 5-point lead. The Buccaneers brought the score within two points with less than a minute left of action, but a rebound and a layup from Banks helped extend Asheville's lead back to four. Burgess secured Asheville's lead with a pair of free throws to close the game.
UP NEXT
Asheville will remain on the road for its next contest as it heads to Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Jan. 31, for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
