University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-7,1-0Big South
USC Upstate
5-9,0-1Big South
Asheville opens Big South Conference play with win over USC Upstate
01.03.2024 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team was a perfect 24-of-24 at the free throw line to help themselves to a 95-67 victory over USC Upstate to open Big South Conference play Friday evening in Kimmel Arena.
Wednesday's game began the winter portion of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry competition between Asheville and USC Upstate. The Bulldogs now have a 15-6 lead over the Spartans.
MATCHING RECORDS
The Bulldogs tied the program and Big South record for highest free throw percentage. Asheville went 24-of-24 against High Point on Feb. 18, 2000, to set the program and conference record.
BULLDOG LEADERBOARD
Drew Pember was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line and led the game with 22 points, adding nine rebounds and five assists.
Nick McMullen and Caleb Burgess recorded 14 points apiece, with Burgess' points and field goals made (six) being a season-high. McMullen added seven rebounds and three steals to his stat line, and Burgess added four assists and two steals to his.
Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee led the team with two 3-pointers apiece, with Banks scoring 13 points and Abee finishing with nine points. Banks followed Pember at the free throw line, going 5-of-5.
TEAM TOTALS
The Bulldogs were 32-for-54 in the field for a .593 shooting percentage and went 7-for-16 from the 3-point line. Asheville connected for 44 points in the paint, 24 points off turnovers, and 10 points following fast breaks.
The Spartans finished the evening with a .397 shooting percentage, a .231 3-point percentage, and a .714 free throw percentage.
BULLDOGS TAKE MOMENTUM
In the first minute and 15 seconds of play, Upstate connected for back-to-back jumpers, taking a 4-0 lead. The Spartans' lead would be short lived as a layup from McMullen sparked an 11-0 run to help the Bulldogs pull ahead by seven. A 3-pointer from Josh Banks would extend the Bulldogs out to a 10-point lead with 14:37 remaining in the half (17-7).
Upstate would bring the score back within single digits twice but could not cut the Bulldogs' lead down below eight. Asheville earned its largest lead of the half with 3:33 remaining, as McMullen connected for a jumper to put the Bulldogs ahead by 19 (41-22).
Upstate closed the first half out on a 10-4 run, bringing Asheville's lead back down to 13, as the Bulldogs entered halftime leading 45-32.
BULLDOGS HOLD LEAD IN SECOND FRAME
Asheville did not hit the brakes entering the second half, as the Bulldogs extended their lead following a 13-0 run. A pair of free throws from Pember, followed by a made basket and a trip to the free throw line from Abee, sparked Asheville's run. Abee's made free throw gave the Bulldogs a 20-point lead (60-40). Back-to-back 3-pointers from Trent Stephney and Banks and a jumper from Burgess closed out Asheville's run.
Asheville's lead did not fall below 25 points for the rest of the contest, and the Bulldogs' largest lead of the night was 32 points, following a layup from Davion Cunningham.
UP NEXT
Following Wednesday's win, Asheville is now 9-7 (1-0 Big South) and earned their fourth consecutive conference-opening victory.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6, as they travel to Presbyterian at 2 p.m.
