University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
14-6,5-1Big South
Gardner-Webb
8-12,3-4Big South
Strong Second Half Lifts Asheville to Road Victory at Gardner-Webb
01.22.2025 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team shot 55.2% from the field and went 5-8 from 3-point range in the second half to erase a nine-point deficit at halftime and defeat Gardner-Webb on the road Wednesday evening, 61-53.
Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 7-0 lead to open Wednesday's contest, and it would be 4:05 into the game before the Bulldogs were able to get on the board following a pair of free throws from Josh Banks. With 15:04 on the clock, back-to-back layups from Toyaz Solomon and Jordan Marsh cut Gardner-Webb's lead down to three (9-6), and neither team would score for the next 4:20 until a jumper from Jemal Davis and a free throw from Marsh tied the score at nine. Despite Asheville's early comeback efforts, Gardner-Webb went on to make three consecutive 3-pointers, and the Runnin' Bulldogs took an 11-0 run to jump ahead 20-9. With 2:03 remaining, Gardner-Webb earned its largest lead of the game at 13 points before Asheville closed the half on a 7-3 run, and the Bulldogs entered the second half trailing 29-20.
Out of the break, Gardner-Webb led by five points or more through the first 7:10 of the second half before a 3-pointer by Fletcher Abee made it a one-possession game (40-37).
FL3TCH!!! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/0hCkD59zth
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 23, 2025
The Runnin' Bulldogs retook a two-possession lead twice, with a jumper from Marsh and a layup by Davis bringing Gardner-Webb's lead down to two points both times. Trailing 45-43, a dunk from Solomon evened the score, and a 3-pointer from Banks gave Asheville its first lead of the night. Banks' triple sparked a 9-0 run by Asheville with 4:55 left in the contest, and Asheville led by four points or more for the remainder of the game.
JB FOR THE LEAD!! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/8m3kqNIHvO
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 23, 2025
Solomon led Asheville with 10 points in the second half to finish the game with 16 points, going 8-16 from the field and collecting seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals. Banks scored 11 points in the second half to finish with 13 points and also grabbed seven boards. Marsh and Abee both finished with 11 points, with all of Abee's points coming in the second half. Abee led Asheville with three triples, and Marsh followed with two. Greg Gantt Jr. led Asheville with eight rebounds and four assists. In 15:59 of action, Davis scored eight points and grabbed two steals and two rebounds.
Asheville's field goal shooting percentage went up 33.6% from the first to the second half, and the Bulldogs' 3-point shooting percentage increased by 55.4% from the first frame to the second. The Bulldogs capitalized on 15 Gardner-Webb turnovers and outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs 15-6 following turnovers. Asheville outshot GWU in the paint 30-14, 10-2 off fast breaks, and 8-7 from the bench.
The Bulldogs improve to 5-1 in conference play, while Gardner-Webb falls to 3-4.
Asheville is back on the court this Saturday (Jan. 25) as the Bulldogs travel to Charleston Southern for a Big South Conference doubleheader, with Asheville's women's basketball taking on the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. and the men to follow at 3:30 p.m.
