University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Winthrop
GAME PREVIEW: Second Half of Conference Action Features Asheville Hosting Winthrop in Kimmel Arena
02.02.2024 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (14-9, 6-2) vs. Winthrop (14-9, 5-3)
- Saturday, February 3, 2024
- Asheville, N.C. || Kimmel Arena
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Watch Live: ESPN+
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (WWNC 570)
- Live Stats
- Game Day Central
PROMOTIONS
- White Out (First 100 fans get a white UNC Asheville t-shirt)
- Moe's Southwest Grill, sponsor of the Blue Zoo Student Section, is providing students with burritos and free t-shirts
ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT
Despite leading for most of Wednesday night's contest, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team fell on the road to Gardner-Webb University 80-73.
Gardner-Webb took the lead out of the gate, but a jumper from Fletcher Abee helped the Bulldogs earn the lead 9-8. There would be six lead changes over the next four minutes of action, but a trip to the free throw line after getting fouled shooting a 3-pointer for Josh Banks secured the lead for Asheville for the rest of the half. Banks followed with a traditional 3-pointer, and Toyaz Solomon connected for a layup to help Asheville lead by eight (26-18).
A layup from Jamon Battle would extend Asheville's lead out to nine, but GWU followed with an 8-0 run to bring the score within one (30-29). Asheville never lost its lead for the remainder of the half but only extended it by five, as the Bulldogs entered the second half leading 46-41.
Gardner-Webb did not allow Asheville to extend its lead past five points in the opening minutes of the second frame, and the Runnin' Bulldogs worked their way into the lead with 15:51 remaining in the contest. Back-to-back jumpers helped the Runnin' Bulldogs pull ahead 55-52. Asheville quickly responded with an 11-0 run to retake an eight-point lead (63-55). A layup from Banks sparked Asheville's run, and it was followed by a successful trip to the charity stripe for Abee after getting fouled while shooting a 3-pointer. Trent Stephney and Solomon connected for back-to-back jumpers, and Greg Gantt Jr. rounded out the run with a layup.
With 7:42 remaining in the contest, Asheville led 69-61, but Gardner-Webb would close the game on a 19-4 run to perform the comeback and secure the victory.
PEMBER ON TOP OF THE CHARTS
Drew Pember leads Asheville in points per game with 20.3, rebounds per game with 7.4, 42 blocks, and a .869 free throw percentage. Pember is No. 3 in the nation in free throws with 159 and No. 6 in free throw attempts with 183. He is No. 14 in the nation in points with 447 and No. 22 in points per game. He is No. 1 in the Big South for free throws, free throw attempts, points, points per game, blocks, and blocks per game (1.91).
ABEE & BANKS LEADING FROM DISTANCE
Abee and Banks are No. 2 in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.22) and total 3-point field goals made (51). Banks is averaging 13.4 points per game, and Abee is averaging 10.3. Banks led all scorers against Gardner-Webb as he recorded 21 points, going 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from distance.
McMULLEN DOMINATING UNDER THE BASKET
Nick McMullen is the fourth Bulldog averaging double-digit points with 10.4 points per game. McMullen leads the team with a .609 field goal percentage, 47 offensive rebounds, and 24 steals.
MR. HELPING HAND
Burgess leads the team and the Big South with 110 assists and 4.8 assists per game.
Burgess and Banks are the only two Bulldogs who have started and played in all 23 games.
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Big South in assist/turnover ratio (1.26), assists per game (15.6), and blocks per game (4.2).
The Bulldogs are No. 9 in the nation in free throws made per game (18.5) and No. 11 in free throw attempts per game (25.1).
LAST TIME AGAINST THE EAGLES
In one of the more intense rivalries in the Big South Conference, the UNC Asheville Bulldogs defeated Winthrop University 82-77 on Jan. 18. Asheville's victory in Rock Hill was the Bulldogs' second victory in the coliseum since 2011. The Bulldogs defeated Winthrop in Rock Hill on Jan. 29, 2021, when fan attendance was not allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Asheville's victory on Thursday was the first victory for the Bulldogs with a crowd in attendance since Dec. 31, 2011.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Winthrop enters Saturday's contest following a heartbreaking 83-81 loss at home against High Point on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Kelton Talford leads Winthrop, averaging 14.3 points a game, a .621 field goal percentage, and is averaging 5.1 rebounds a game. Kasen Harrison leads Winthrop with 83 assists and is tied with Nick Johnson with 32 steals. The Eagles' leading 3-point shooter is McMahon, Sin'Cere, with a .407 3-point shooting percentage.
As a team, Winthrop is No. 1 in the conference and No. 1 in the country in free throw attempts per game with 27.6, is No. 2 in the league, and is No. 3 in the country in free throws made per game with 19.5. The Eagles also check in at No. 1 in the league in field-goal percentage defense (.413) and 3-point percentage defense (.291).
SERIES HISTORY
- Overall- Winthrop leads 48-39
- Morrell vs. Winthrop - 3-7
- First Meeting (D1 Era) - W 63-55 Jan. 21, 1988
- Last Meeting- W 82-77 Jan. 18, 2024
- Last UNC Asheville Win- Jan. 18, 2024
- Last Winthrop Win- Dec. 31, 2022
- Series Record at Winthrop- 12-28 (D1 era)
- Series Record at UNC Asheville- 21-16 (D1 era)
- Series Record at Neutral Sites- 3-3
- Series Streak- UNC Asheville W2
- Last 10 Matchups- 4-6
- Largest Margin of Victory- W 91-68 Jan. 23, 1991
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
|
2023-24 Season |
AVL |
WU |
| Scoring Average | 80.7 | 79.0 |
| Opp. Scoring Average | 74.2 | 70.4 |
| Scoring Margin | 6.5 | 8.6 |
| FG Percentage | .469 | .469 |
| 3PT Percentage | .372 | .356 |
| FT Percentage | .733 | .708 |
| Rebounding Average | 35.3 | 36.2 |
| Assists Per Game | 15.6 | 12.0 |
| Steals Per Game | 6.0 | 6.6 |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.2 | 2.6 |
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