University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
0-2,0-0Big South
Ohio
1-1,0-0MAC
Late Game Push Not Enough as Bulldogs Fall to Bobcats
11.09.2024 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team traveled to face the Ohio Bobcats Saturday night, and despite taking the lead with 5:34 left in the game, the Bulldogs fell to the Bobcats 82-76.
Josh Banks opened the contest with his first of five 3-pointers on the night to help Asheville earn an early lead. Banks finished with 20 points, going 5-for-9 behind the 3-point arc and grabbing seven rebounds. Banks made a 3-pointer to help Asheville earn its largest lead of the night with 14:15 left in the second half (15-10).
A 3-pointer from Banks with 13 minutes left in the first half put Asheville back in the lead by five, but Ohio responded with a layup and a triple to even the score at 19. With 10:46 left in the half, Ohio's Elmore James made a triple to secure the lead for the Bobcats for the rest of the half. Ohio entered halftime with a 42-34 lead.
In the second half, Ohio led for almost the entire 20 minutes, earning its largest lead following a layup from James, which gave the Bobcats a 12-point lead with 10:57 left in the game (60-48).
Trailing by nine with 9:06 remaining, Fletcher Abee connected for a 3-pointer to spark a 9-0 run for Asheville and even the score at 62. Abee also had 20 points behind, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Four of Abee's 3-pointers happened in the second half.
Ohio retook a 2-point lead before Abee connected with another triple to take Asheville's first lead of the second half (65-64). Ohio answered Abee's three with a triple of their own, and the Bobcats remained in the lead for the rest of the game to earn the win.
Abee and Banks were the game's leading scorers, each with 20 points. Toyaz Solomon followed with 14 points and six rebounds. Jordan Marsh had nine points, and Greg Gantt Jr. had seven assists.
As a team, the Bulldogs finished with a 42.86% field goal shooting percentage and went 11-for-25 from 3-point range, with Banks and Abee accounting for 10 of the 11 triples. Julian Clarke's lone shot of the game in his three minutes of action was a made 3-pointer. The Bulldogs were 11-for-22 from the charity stripe, and Ohio went 24-for-31.
Asheville (0-2) will be back in action on Monday, November 18, as the Bulldogs travel to face North Florida. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Jacksonville.
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