University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
19-11,11-4Big South
Gardner-Webb
14-15,9-5Big South
Men’s Basketball Falls at Home to Gardner-Webb
02.24.2024 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team hosted Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon in Kimmel Arena and fell to the Runnin' Bulldogs 78-77.
Prior to Saturday's game, the men's basketball team honored its five senior members: Trent Stephney, Jamon Battle, Caleb Burgess, Drew Pember, and Fletcher Abee.
ON THE COURT
Tied at 28 with 5:28 left in the first half, Asheville went on a 12-3 run to close the half and enter the break ahead 40-30. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 16 points a little over five minutes into the second half following a layup from Nick McMullen. This would end up being the Bulldogs' largest lead of the game, as the Runnin' Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run with less than 10 minutes remaining to bring the score within three. Gardner Webb's run was sparked by Julien Soumaoro, who connected for three consecutive triples.
Asheville extended their lead back out to eight, following a triple from Fletcher Abee and a jumper from Nick McMullen, but GWU responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Soumaoro and a layup from Quest Aldridge to tie the score at 69.
With 42 seconds remaining and the score tied at 75, a trip to the free throw line from Josh Banks would help Asheville take a two-point lead, but Aldridge would connect for a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining to help Gardner-Webb take the lead, which the Runnin' Bulldogs would hold for the remainder of the game to earn the victory.
IN THE BOX
Fletcher Abee and Toyaz Solomon led Asheville with 16 points each. Josh Banks closely followed with 15, and Nick McMullen scored 12.
Drew Pember finished with nine rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and six points. Caleb Burgess finished with seven assists, four rebounds, and six points.
Asheville shot 50% from the field and 38.1% from the 3-point arch. Gardner-Webb shot 46.8% from the field and 50% from the 3-point arch. The Runnin' Bulldogs were 10-for-16 from distance in the second half, compared to only connecting for two 3-pointers in the opening frame. Soumaoro led GWU with 16 points.
POSTGAME NOTES
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Saturday marked Asheville's largest crowd of the season, with 3,129 fans in attendance. With Asheville reaching more than 3,000 fans in attendance, Kimmel and Associates is rewarding $3,000 to the Bulldog Scholarship Fund.
UP NEXT
Asheville closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 2, as they travel to Radford. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
