University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
15-9,7-2Big South
Winthrop
14-10,5-4Big South
Bulldogs Earn Season Sweep Over Winthrop on Saturday
02.03.2024 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team has swept Winthrop during the regular season, as Asheville defeated Winthrop 82-78 Saturday afternoon in Kimmel Arena.
DREW PEMBER LEADS THE CHARGE
Drew Pember matched his season-high of 36 points and turned in his sixth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Pember was 11-for-16 from the field and 6-for-11 from 3-point range. Pember's 11 field goals and six 3-pointers are season highs in both categories. Pember also recorded a game-high seven assists.
LUCKY ELEVEN
Josh Banks, Fletcher Abee, and Nick McMullen joined Pember in double-digit scoring, all recording 11 points each. Abee added four assists to his stat line and followed Pember from distance, going 3-for-8 from 3-point shooting. McMullen recorded the second-most rebounds of the game with six.
FIVES ACROSS THE BOARD
Caleb Burgess recorded the second most assists with five, adding five rebounds and five points to his day. Burgess recorded one triple, which helped turn the momentum in Asheville's favor. With 4:43 left in the game, Asheville trailed by two before Burgess connected for a triple to help Asheville back in the lead.
Kimmel Arena loved that triple from CB!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/3vQ4L7Z5O0
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 3, 2024
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs went 26-for-55 from the field (.473) and 13-for-29 from distance (.448). From the charity stripe, Asheville went 17-for-21 (.810).
WINTHROP'S NUMBERS
The Eagles shot 27-for-62 from the field (.435) and 8-for-23 from 3-point range (.348). The Eagles finished 16-for-19 from the charity stripe (.842). Kasen Harrison led Winthrop with 19 points, followed by Kelton Talford with 18.
ASHEVILLE CATCHES FIRE EARLY FROM 3-POINT RANGE
Asheville's offense connected for four consecutive 3-pointers to get on the board on Saturday. Abee connected for the first and third shots, Pember scored the second, and Trent Stephney rounded out the run, helping Asheville jump ahead 10-2. Winthrop brought the score back within three before a layup and triple from Pember extended Asheville's lead back out to eight (17-9).
The Eagles responded by once again bringing the score back within three (17-14). The Bulldogs answered with a 9-2 run to go ahead by 10 (26-16). Asheville earned its largest lead of the game at 15 points following a jumper from over the backboard from Pember with 7:23 remaining (34-19).
PEMBER... Behind the glass 🫨#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/cywRAnLL22
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 3, 2024
In the final minutes of the first half, Winthrop went on a 7-0 run to bring the score back within three before Pember closed the half with a 3-pointer to enter the second frame ahead 42-36.
Mr. Helping Hand finds our Dude of the Day! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/u9cSNAjBKp
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 3, 2024
BULLDOGS PERFORM LATE GAME COMEBACK
Winthrop opened the second half on a 17-4 run to take a seven-point lead with 13:50 remaining (53-46). Winthrop extended its lead out to nine over the next three minutes of action before a triple from Abee helped tip the momentum back in Asheville's favor. Nearly two minutes later, Pember connected for a 3-pointer to bring the score back within three and went on to tie the game at 63 with 7:05 remaining. This would end up being the first of four ties over the next five minutes of action, and Burgess' triple to help Asheville in the lead with 4:43 remaining would spark a back-and-forth lead battle, as there were five lead changes along with the ties.
All tied up! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/gfQZ6K1vlS
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 3, 2024
Burgess earned Asheville the lead for good following a successful trip to the free-throw line. Pember helped extend the lead to five following a 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining. Winthrop worked its way back within two, but Pember helped provide some insurance for the Bulldogs with a successful trip to the free-throw line, and Asheville went on to earn the regular season sweep.
POSTGAME NOTES
With Saturday's win, Asheville is now 15-9 and 7-2 in conference play, while Winthrop falls to 14-10 and 5-4 in league action.
Saturday marked the largest crowd in Kimmel Arena this season, with 2,206 fans in attendance. If Kimmel Arena has 3,000 fans in attendance this season, Kimmel and Associates will donate $3,000 to the Bulldog Scholarship Fund.
LOUDEST Kimmel Arena has been this season! Let's do it again on Wednesday! #IWWD https://t.co/nnLh2LlyaQ
— Mike Morrell (@CoachMMorrell) February 3, 2024
UP NEXT
Men's basketball will return to Kimmel Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 7, as they host High Point at 6:30 p.m.
