University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-2,0-0Big South
Southeast Missouri State
2-4,0-0OVC
Banks Surges in Second Half to Help Asheville to Victory over SEMO
11.22.2024 | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, Ark. – Jordan Marsh and Toyaz Solomon led Asheville's offense early, while Josh Banks had a breakout second half to lead the UNC Asheville men's basketball team to a 72-64 win over Southeast Missouri State Friday evening in Arkansas.
Out of the gate, Solomon got the Bulldogs on the board with a layup before Jordan Marsh had the Bulldogs next two baskets to even the score 6-6. Marsh, Solomon and Jemal Davis combined for 25 of Asheville's 30 points at the break, with Marsh leading the way with 10. After trailing 10-12, a jumper by Solomon sparked a 7-0 run to put the Bulldogs ahead 17-12. The Redhawks responded with a 7-0 run of their own to retake a two-point lead with 7:51 remaining in the half. Trailing by two with 2:27 remaining in the half, a dunk by Solomon sparked a 6-1 run by Asheville to close the first half. Marsh followed Solomon's dunk with a pair of free throws, and Banks scored a layup with 38 seconds left to put the Bulldogs ahead 30-27 at the half.
SEMO worked its way back into the lead early in the second half, as the Redhawks opened the second half on a 4-0 run. The Redhawks extended their lead to four points before a layup from Aidan Rubio and a 3-pointer from Banks put the Bulldogs ahead 37-36, and Asheville remained in the lead for the rest of the night. The Bulldogs earned its largest lead of the game at 10 points, following a layup from Solomon with 4:48 remaining (56-46). Banks connected for four 3-pointers in the second frame, the only made 3-pointers for the Bulldogs in the contest.
The Bulldogs were 24-59 from the field, and the Redhawks were 22-63. SEMO had one more 3-pointer than Asheville, but the Bulldogs made five more free throws than the Redhawks. Asheville was 20-29 from the charity stripe with 14 free throws in the second half, while SEMO was 15-21.
Banks only had three points at halftime but finished the night with 23 points, following a 20 point second half. The fifth-year senior was 6-13 from the field, 4-9 from 3-point range and 7-10 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds and a team-high four assists to his stat line.
Solomon recorded the team's first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He was 8-15 from the field, and eight of his rebounds came in the second half.
Marsh was the third Bulldog in double figures with 14 points and added eight rebounds. Davis finished with nine points and three boards, and Kameron Taylor and Greg Gantt Jr. had eight rebounds apiece. Taylor led the way with six offensive boards and added two steals to his stat line. Fletcher Abee was second on the team in assists with three.
The Bulldogs had the lead for 19:34 while SEMO led for 14:32. Asheville outscored the Redhawks off turnovers (12-8), in the paint (34-28), off second chance shots (13-8), and fast breaks (8-7). Both teams had 14 points off the bench.
Asheville (2-2) will return to the Farris Center in Conway, Ark., on Sunday, Nov. 24, as the Bulldogs face Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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