GAME PREVIEW: Asheville Hosts Western Carolina in Mountain Rivalry

GAME DETAILS

UNC Asheville (5-4) vs. Western Carolina (3-5)
Saturday, December 14, 2024
2 p.m.
Asheville, N.C. || Kimmel Arena
Watch: ESPN+ and CW62 (Pete Yanity play-by-play; Dean Kenner, analyst)
Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (ESPN Asheville) | (Brian Hall, play-by-play; Mike Gore, analyst)
Live Stats
Tickets
Gameday Central
Promotion: Get 50% off your tickets when you purchase by using the code: "AVLDAY" at checkout.
Game Sponsor: Bear's Smokehouse BBQ

MOUNTAIN RIVALRY HISTORY

Saturday marks the 59th matchup between the two programs.
The Bulldogs won the last match held in Kimmel Arena in 2022 (73-61).
Asheville is 12-8 at home against the Catamounts.
Only three players – WCU's Bernard Pelote and Asheville's Fletcher Abee and Josh Banks – played in last year's meeting in Cullowhee. Pelote scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting, along with four rebounds in last year's triumph.
This Saturday will mark Abee's sixth time facing WCU in his collegiate career.

LAST TIME OUT

All 12 Bulldogs that entered the game on Wednesday made their way into the scoring column, with Connor Dubsky leading the way with 23 points, going 6-12 from the field, 5-10 from 3-point range, and 6-6 from the free throw line. Toyaz Solomon and Kameron Taylor followed with 14 points each. Solomon led Asheville under the basket with eight boards and two blocks, and Taylor had five boards, four assists, and two steals.
As a team, the Bulldogs shot 55.7% from the field. Asheville forced 19 turnovers, which led to 23 points. Asheville outshot Bluefield in the paint 42-12 and 24-5 off fast break points. Asheville's bench scored 43 points, while the Rams' bench had 17.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Fletcher Abee and Connor Dubsky opened Wednesday's game, and the Bulldogs offense kept their foot on the gas as they led 13-0 three minutes into the contest. With 12:55 remaining in the first half, the Bulldogs had extended their lead out 27-1.
A driving layup from Dubsky gave the Bulldogs a 30-point lead with 2:29 to go, and Asheville closed the half ahead 56-24.
With halfway to go in the second frame, Clark connected for his second 3-pointer of the half to give the Bulldogs a 40-point lead (76-36). Gantt followed with a layup, and the Bulldogs led by 41 points or more for the rest of the contest.

BULLDOG STAT LEADERS

Abee leads the team with a .460 3-point shooting percentage and 29 3-pointers. Abee is No. 1 in the Big South in 3-point shooting percentage and 3-pointers per game with 3.2. Abee is averaging 12.8 points per game.
Solomon is averaging 14.4 points a game and leads the team with 7.4 rebounds a game and 10 blocks.
Marsh is averaging 13.7 points per game and leads the team with 33 assists and is No. 1 in the Big South in free throw percentage with a .923.
Josh Banks is averaging 14.6 points per game. He is second on the team with 21 3-pointers and a .412 3-point shooting percentage.
Gantt is second on the team with 23 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Bulldogs are No. 1 in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 9 per game, and in assists, averaging 15.11 per game.
Asheville is the only team in the league with teammates who scored 20 points or more in two separate games. Banks and Abee scored 20 points each on Nov. 9, Abee scored 25, and Dubsky scored 20 on Saturday (Dec. 7).
Solomon is in an 8-way tie for first in the league for double-doubles with two.

A LOOK AT THE CATS

The Catamounts have had an extremely competitive nonconference season thus far, as NET ranked them at No. 68th for toughest schedule.
WCU comes into Saturday's game following a loss to USC Upstate on Dec. 7.
Western's bench has been making a big impact for the Catamounts, as the group has averaged 28.13 points per game.
Ice Emery is leading WCU with 12.9 ppg, Bernard Pelote is leading the Cats with 7.4 boards per game.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

2024-25 Season Asheville Western Carolina

Scoring Offense 81.1 74.4

Scoring Defense 75.7 75.9

Scoring Margin 5.4 -1.5

FG Percentage 45.6% 43.7%

FG Pct. Defense 44.4% 42.8%

3PT Percentage 35.8% 32.2%

FT Percentage 65.7% 70.1%

Rebounds Per Game 37.6 40.8

Assists Per Game 15.11 14.3

Steals Per Game 7.33 6.6

Blocks Per Game 3.56 2.63

THE REMAINING 2024 PORTION OF THE SEASON

Saturday marks the third of five home games for the Bulldogs after opening the season with seven road games.
Following Saturday, Asheville will host North Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 17, for the second part of the two teams' home-and-home series. The Bulldogs defeated the Ospreys in their first matchup 89-75.
Asheville will close its five-game home stretch by hosting Virginia University of Lynchburg on Thursday, Dec. 19. Asheville defeated the Dragons 114-59 last season.
The Bulldogs travel to face UNC Wilmington next Saturday, Dec. 21, for Asheville's final road game of 2024.
The Bulldogs' final game of the calendar year is against Columbia International University on Monday, Dec. 30, in Kimmel Arena.

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