University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Radford
GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Travels to Radford For Regular Season Finale
03.01.2024 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (19-11, 11-4) vs. Radford (15-15, 5-10)
- Saturday, March 2, 2024
- Radford, Va. || Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Watch Live: ESPN+
- Listen: Bulldog Radio Network (570 WWNC)
- Live Stats
- Tickets
ASHEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT
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 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 to victory.
THE PEMBER FILE
Drew Pember is averaging 20.3 points and 8.0 rebounds. He leads the team with 57 blocks and is second on the team with 99 assists. Pember is No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference in made free throws with 205. He is No. 1 in the league and No. 6 in the nation in free throw attempts with 243.
Pember ranks first in the Big South in blocks, blocks per game (1.97), points (588), points per game, and defensive rebounds per game (6.62). Pember is No. 9 in the nation in points and No. 17 in points per game.
FROM THE BIG SOUTH
Pember is looking to become the eighth player in league history to average 20.0 points in back-to-back seasons. Pember was the conference's scoring leader in 2022-23 with his 20.9 average, and if he can maintain his scoring clip and top spot, he would become just the fourth player to lead the Big South in scoring in consecutive seasons with a 20+ point average.
Pember is the only player in Big South history with 1800 points (1,809), 700 rebounds (756), and 200 blocked shots (230).
ABEE & BANKS LEAD FROM 3-POINT RANGE
Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee lead Asheville in distant shooting, with Banks averaging 13.4 points and Abee averaging 10.7. Banks has a .404 3-point shooting percentage, and Abee leads the Bulldogs with a .427 3-point shooting percentage.
McMULLEN LEADING FROM DOWN LOW
Nick McMullen is the fourth Bulldog averaging double-figures with 10.4 a game. McMullen leads Asheville with a .600 field goal shooting percentage and 56 offensive rebounds.
MR. HELPING HAND
Caleb Burgess leads the league with 144 assists and averages 4.8 a game. Burgess is averaging 7.1 points per game.
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Big South in assist/turnover ratio (1.26), assists per game (15.4), blocks per game (4.4), effective field goal percentage (.544), and 3-point percentage (.374).
The Bulldogs are No. 7 in the nation in free throws made per game (18.3), No. 9 in free throw attempts per game (24.6), and No. 22 in 3-point percentage.
In the latest Field of 68 poll, Asheville was listed at No. 20 among mid-major teams.
LAST TIME AGAINST RADFORD
The UNC Asheville men's basketball team's starting five reached double-digit scoring to help the Bulldogs defeat Radford University 81-69 on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The Highlanders jumped out to a six-point lead in the opening minutes of the game before Asheville stormed back, tying the game at 13 following a triple from Banks. Radford once again extended their lead, going on an 8-0 run (21-13). Back-to-back triples from Banks and Abee quickly cut into Radford's lead, and a successful trip to the free-throw line from Burgess tied the game at 21.
Tied at 31 with 5:09 remaining, Asheville went on an 11-2 run, sparked by a layup from Greg Gantt Jr. and a triple from Abee. Asheville's run helped the Bulldogs enter halftime leading 42-36.
Asheville's momentum carried over to the second frame, with Pember connecting for the first five points of the half, earning the Bulldogs their first double-digit lead (47-36). Asheville extended their double-digit lead out by as many as 15, but the Highlanders were able to cut Asheville's lead back down to single-digits, following a triple from DaQuan Smith.
With 7:33 remaining, Radford made it a two-possession game, trailing the Bulldogs by four, before Burgess went on a 5-0 run. Burgess connected for a fastbreak jumper, drew a foul for a trip to the free throw line, and connected for another jumper to help Asheville retake a nine-point lead. Radford brought the game back within five with 2:22 remaining, but that was as close as the Highlanders would get, as Asheville closed the game on a 10-3 run.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
The Highlanders enter Saturday's competition after falling 58-57 to Charleston Southern on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
DaQuan Smith leads Radford, averaging 15.2 points per game. Kenyon Giles and Bryan Antoine join Smith in double-digit scoring with 14.9 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Giles leads the team in assists with 83 and Antoine leads in steals (43) and blocks (20). Antoine is Radford's leading 3-point shooter with a .423 shooting percentage and leads the team with a .878 free-throw percentage.
Justin Archer is Radford's leading rebounder with 7.7 per game.
SERIES HISTORY
- Overall- Asheville leads 42-39
- Morrell vs. Radford- 6-3
- First Meeting (D1 Era) - W 64-62 1985-86
- Last Meeting- W 81-69 Jan. 24, 2024
- Last UNC Asheville Win- 81-69 Jan. 24, 2024
- Last Radford Win- Jan. 25, 2021
- Series Record at Radford- 12-23
- Series Record at UNC Asheville- 24-12
- Series Record at Neutral Sites- 6-2
- Series Streak- UNC Asheville W4
- Last 10 Matchups- 7-3
- Largest Margin of Victory- 105-76 Feb. 25, 1989
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
|
2023-24 Season |
AVL |
RU |
| Scoring Average | 80.3 | 72.8 |
| Opp. Scoring Average | 73.7 | 71.8 |
| Scoring Margin | 6.6 | 1.0 |
| FG Percentage | .472 | .465 |
| 3PT Percentage | .374 | .373 |
| FT Percentage | .743 | .738 |
| Rebounding Average | 35.1 | 34.2 |
| Assists Per Game | 15.4 | 11.4 |
| Steals Per Game | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.4 | 3.6 |
BULLDOGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville men's basketball, follow the team on 𝕩.
