University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
1-2,0-0Big South
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North Florida
3-2,0-0ASUN
Bulldogs Earn First Win of Season at North Florida
11.18.2024 | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six Bulldogs found their way into double-digit scoring as UNC Asheville battled to an 89-75 victory over North Florida on Monday. Monday's win marks the Bulldogs' first win of the season, North Florida's first loss at home, and the Ospreys' second loss of the season after opening the year 3-0.
After North Florida opened the game with a dunk, the Bulldogs responded with the next eight points to take a 6-point lead. Jordan Marsh scored Asheville's first four points and finished the night with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 22:30 of action. North Florida responded by going on an 11-2 run to take the lead 13-10. The Ospreys earned their largest lead of the game following a 3-pointer with 12 minutes remaining to move ahead by six (18-12).
Asheville tied the score at 18 following free throws from Connor Dubsky, a layup from Josh Banks, and a jumper from Toyaz Solomon. Solomon and Banks led Asheville's offense on the evening, with Solomon turning in a career-high 20 points and Banks scoring 17. Both Solomon and Banks had seven rebounds apiece.
Toyaz Solomon with the jumper and Jordan Marsh nearly completes the steal! Your Bulldogs are hard at work in Jacksonville! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/ylVO5yPPcN
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 19, 2024
With under 10 minutes to go, there would be five lead changes, with the Bulldogs taking the lead for good following a 3-pointer from Banks and a tip-in from Marsh to put Asheville ahead 32-30. The Bulldogs would remain ahead for the rest of the half and enter the break leading 39-37.
The Ospreys scored the first basket of the second half and went on to retake the lead within the opening 65 seconds (40-39). The leading team changed six times over the opening four minutes of action, with the Bulldogs finally pulling away following a dunk by Kameron Taylor, which sparked a 14-0 run from Asheville (60-47). Taylor scored seven of Asheville's 14 points to give the Bulldogs a double-digit lead. Taylor finished the night with 11 points and five rebounds.
14-0 run by the Bulldogs following the layup from Jemal Davis! 🤩#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/cbYA8dgWHS
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 19, 2024
Asheville remained in the lead for the rest of the night, holding the lead by at least two possessions and earning their largest lead at 14 following a free throw from Marsh with 1:13 left in the contest.
The Bulldogs dominated the paint as Asheville outscored the Ospreys 48-28. The Bulldogs outscored North Florida 15-10 on second-chance points and 25-20 off the bench. In all, there were 13 lead changes and five ties. The Bulldogs out rebounded the Ospreys 49-33, recording five more rebounds on offense and 11 on defense. Asheville's shooting percentages were also better in every category, with the Bulldogs shooting 49.3% from the field, 42.1% from the 3-point range, and 76.5% from the charity stripe. North Florida was over nine percent lower from the field and 3-point range and 14% lower from the charity stripe.
Kameron Taylor with TWO offensive rebounds and the basket! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/2YKNyR0XJP
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) November 19, 2024
Fletcher Abee and Jemal Davis were the other two Bulldogs in double-figures as Abee had 13 points and Davis had 10 points. Abee and Banks led Asheville with three baskets each from 3-point range. Solomon led the team, going 10-for-16 from the field. Greg Gantt Jr. led the team with nine boards and had five assists.
Asheville (1-2) returns to action this weekend as the Bulldogs travel to Arkansas for a multi-team event. They will start with a matchup against Southeast Missouri State at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, before facing Central Arkansas on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m.
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