University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
8-5,0-0Big South
UNC Wilmington
9-3,0-0CAA
Abee Makes 300th Career 3-Pointer; Bulldogs Fall to UNCW
12.21.2024 | Men's Basketball
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team made its final road trip of the 2024 calendar year on Saturday and despite out-scoring the Seahawks in the second half, the Bulldogs fell 85-74 to UNC Wilmington.
Kameron Taylor got Asheville's first points of the day with a trip to the free throw line, but the Bulldogs' first basket from the field was Fletcher Abee's 300th career 3-pointer.
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— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) December 21, 2024
With his first 3-pointer in today's game, Fletcher Abee has recorded his 300th career 3-pointer!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/rNbs3XwJWX
Abee finished with seven points, going 2-6 from 3-point range.
UNC Wilmington got out to a hot start as the Seahawks opened the game on a 15-2 run before Abee's three. Toyaz Solomon followed Abee's 3-pointer with his third three-pointer of the season (17-8). With 11:14 to go in the half, Abee connected for his second 3-pointer and brought Wilmington's lead down to six (19-13). The Seahawks followed with a dunk and a layup to extend their lead back out to 10, and UNCW led by double figures for the rest of the half, entering halftime ahead 44-30.
The Bulldogs opened the second half on a 9-0 run, sparked by a jumper and 3-pointer from Marsh. Greg Gantt Jr. followed with a layup, and Marsh recorded another layup to make it a five-point game (44-39). Marsh finished with a game-high 23 points and seven assists. Asheville continued to creep up on Wilmington's lead, with a layup from Taylor putting the Bulldogs down by four and a jumper from Marsh making it a one-possession game (48-45).
However, this would be as close as Asheville would get to the Seahawks, as UNCW answered with a 3-pointer and worked its way back to a double-digit lead.
Taylor was Asheville's second-highest scorer, with 18 points, going 8-10 from the field. Banks and Solomon were the final two Bulldogs to reach double figures, with Banks scoring 13 and Solomon recording 11. Solomon and Gantt led the team with eight rebounds each. Solomon had a career-high six blocked shots.
The Bulldogs close out the 2024 calendar year with a home game on Monday, Dec. 30, as Asheville welcomes Bluefield University to Kimmel Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.
