University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
0-1,0-0Big South
Alabama
1-0,0-0SEC
Bulldogs fall to No. 2 Alabama
11.05.2024 | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team opened its season on Monday night against No. 2 Alabama and fell to the Crimson Tide 110-54.
Sophomore guard Jordan Marsh, in his Bulldog debut, scored a team-high 13 points, with 10 of his points coming in the second half. Marsh added two rebounds and two assists to his stat line.
Senior forward Toyaz Solomon had 11 points and opened the game with a 3-pointer and a dunk to get Asheville on the board and cut Alabama's lead down to four (9-5). Solomon added five rebounds, a steal, and an assist to his stat line.
Freshman Kameron Taylor opened his collegiate career with 10 points, an assist, and three rebounds (all offensive). Taylor became the first freshman since 2018 to score double-digits in a season opener, with the last freshmen to do this being Devon Baker, Tajion Jones, and Coty Jude to start the 2018-19 season.
Josh Banks, Sage Tolentino, and Fletcher Abee had six points each, and Greg Gantt Jr. scored two points. Tolentino led the team with six rebounds.
With 12:12 remaining in the first half, Alabama took a double-digit lead and never looked back as the Crimson Tide led by double-digits for the remainder of the contest.
Both teams had 12 points off turnovers. Asheville had 12 second-chance points, and Alabama had 14. Alabama's bench scored 45 points, while Asheville's scored 22. The Crimson Tide dominated the paint and on fast break points, outscoring Asheville 56-18 in the paint and 33-0 out of the break.
Alabama was led by SEC Preseason Player of the Year Mark Sears, who scored 20 points.
The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday as Asheville travels to face Ohio at 7 p.m.
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