University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-7,2-0Big South
Presbyterian
9-8,1-1Big South
Men’s Basketball Holds Off Late Presbyterian Surge; Earns 84-80 Road Win
01.06.2024 | Men's Basketball
CLINTON, S.C. – Drew Pember connected for seven free throws in the final 2:21 of action to help preserve the UNC Asheville men's basketball team's lead and earn an 84-80 victory over the Presbyterian Blue Hose Saturday afternoon.
BY THE NUMBERS
Pember recorded a game-high 29 points and clinched his fourth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Pember was 7-for-12 from the field, 15-for-16 from the free throw line, and recorded three assists.
Nick McMullen finished with a season-high 20 points and went 9-for-11 from the field, a season-high on made shots and shot attempts. McMullen added five rebounds to his stat line.
Josh Banks rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures, as he registered 14 points, adding five rebounds and two assists.
As a team, Asheville shot 29-for-55 from the field (.527) and 5-for-16 behind the 3-point arc. At the free throw line, the Bulldogs were 21-for-25 (.840).
Presbyterian had five players finish with double-digit points, with Marquis Barnett leading the way with 22 points. The Blue Hose shot .509 from the field, .320 from the perimeter, and .700 from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs outscored Presbyterian 19 to seven off second-chance points, with Asheville outrebounding Presbyterian 36 to 26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Asheville led right out of the gate, with back-to-back layups from McMullen and Pember. Back-to-back jumpers from the duo would help the Bulldogs to a five-point lead (8-3). The Blue Hose worked their way into the lead following a layup and a 3-pointer that put them ahead by two (14-12). The Blue Hose worked their lead to seven points following a layup from Barnett (21-14).
Trailing by seven with 7:59 left in the half, the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run with Pember starting the run with back-to-back baskets. Banks and Toyaz Solomon connected for the last two shots to help Asheville ahead 29-28. Presbyterian retook a one-point lead, but that would be the final Blue Hose lead of the half, as the Bulldogs answered with a 16-5 run. The Bulldogs closed the half out with back-to-back 3-pointers from Solomon and Abee to go into the half ahead 45-35.
Asheville held the lead for the remainder of the contest, but the Blue Hose prevented the Bulldogs from extending their lead past 10. With 3:02 left in the contest, Presbyterian attempted a late-game comeback following a 7-1 run to cut Asheville's lead to one (78-77). A foul would send Pember to the line, where he would sink both shots to extend Asheville's lead back out to three.
With 38 seconds left, the Blue Hose would once again bring the score within one before a foul would send Pember back to the free throw line. Pember once again extended the score back to three with six seconds remaining. Trent Stephney would go on to foul Barnett, sending him to the free-throw line. Barnett sank his first shot but intentionally missed his second shot, missing the rim entirely, which gave the ball back to Asheville. Pember would draw a foul and sink another pair of free throws to finish the game.
UP NEXT
With Saturday's win, Asheville advances to 10-7 and 2-0 in the Big South. The Bulldogs will remain on the road for their next Big South matchup as they travel to High Point on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
