University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Takes on Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs
01.30.2024 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (14-8, 6-1) vs. Gardner-Webb (10-12, 5-2)
- Wednesday, January 31, 2024
- Boiling Springs, N.C. || Paul Porter Arena
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Watch Live: ESPN+
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (WWNC 570)
- Live Stats
ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT
The UNC Asheville men's basketball team earned their sixth Big South Conference victory on Saturday (Jan. 27), defeating Charleston Southern 71-65.
The Bulldogs shot 28-for-60 (.467) from the field and 6-for-17 (.353) from the 3-point range. Drew Pember led all scorers with 30 points, recording a season-high five 3-pointers and 11 field goals. 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 opened the game 7-0 and 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 Caleb 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.
PEMBER ON TOP OF THE CHARTS
Pember leads Asheville in points per game with 20.7 rebounds per game with 7.6, 40 blocks, and a .877 free throw percentage. Pember is No. 2 in the nation in free throws with 157 and No. 5 in free throw attempts with 179. He is No. 13 in the nation in points with 434 and No. 18 in points per game. He is No. 1 in the Big South for free throws, free throw attempts, points, points per game, defensive rebounds per game (6.10), blocks and blocks per game (1.90).
ABEE & BANKS LEADING FROM DISTANCE
Fletcher Abee and Banks lead Asheville in 3-pointers, as Abee has a .415 and Banks has a .414 3-point shooting percentage. Banks is averaging 13.1 points a game, and Abee is averaging 10.1.
McMULLEN DOMINATING UNDER THE BASKET
Nick McMullen is the fourth Bulldog averaging double-digit points with 10.6 points per game. McMullen leads the team with a .619 field goal percentage, 46 offensive rebounds, and 22 steals. McMullen has turned in double-digit scoring outings in nine of the last 10 contests.
MR. HELPING HAND
Burgess leads the team and the Big South with 106 assists and 4.8 assists per game. Burgess averages 6.7 points per game and has turned in double-digit point outings in the last three contests.
Burgess and Banks are the only two Bulldogs who have started and played in all 22 games.
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Big South in assist/turnover ratio (1.29), assists per game (15.9), blocks per game (4.3), and effective field goal percentage (.540).
The Bulldogs are No. 9 in the nation in free throws made per game (18.5) and No. 10 in free throw attempts per game (25.2).
SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb enters Wednesday's contest on a five-game winning streak, with their last win against USC Upstate on Jan. 27 (75-70).
The Runnin' Bulldogs are led by Julien Saomaoro and Caleb Robinson, who are averaging 13.5 points a game. Soumaoro leads the team with a .348 three-point shooting percentage and 24 steals. Robinson leads the team with 128 rebounds, averaging 6.1 a game. DQ Nicholas is GWU's third-highest scorer, scoring 11.1 points per game. He leads the team with 59 assists.
Gardner-Webb is No. 2 in the conference in defensive rebounds per game, averaging 27.14.
SERIES HISTORY
- Overall- GWU leads 35-23
- Morrell vs. GWU- 3-7
- First Meeting - W 74-65 1970-71
- Last Meeting- W 75-63 Feb. 18, 2023
- Last UNC Asheville Win- Feb. 18, 2023
- Last GWU Win- Feb. 23, 2022
- Series Record at GWU (2009-2023)- 8-6
- Series Record at UNC Asheville (2009-2023)- 10-4
- Series Streak- UNC Asheville W2
- Last 10 Matchups- 3-7
- Largest Margin of Victory- 80-55 Jan. 3, 2015
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
| 2023-24 Season | AVL | GWU |
| Scoring Average | 81.0 | 74.0 |
| Opp. Scoring Average | 73.9 | 72.8 |
| Scoring Margin | 7.1 | 1.2 |
| FG Percentage | .469 | .432 |
| 3PT Percentage | .369 | .329 |
| FT Percentage | .735 | .651 |
| Rebounding Average | 35.5 | 38.0 |
| Assists Per Game | 15.9 | 12.6 |
| Steals Per Game | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.3 | 2.3 |
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