University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-5,1-0Big South
High Point
13-4,1-1Big South
Bulldogs Take Down Panthers in Front of an Electric Kimmel Arena
01.04.2025 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team welcomed the Big South Conference preseason favorites High Point to Kimmel Arena on Saturday afternoon for the Bulldogs' league opener, and in front of an electric crowd, the Bulldogs defeated the Panthers 103-99.
SCHOOL RECORD
The Bulldogs committed just two turnovers against the Panthers while forcing High Point to commit 10. Asheville's two turnovers are a school record for the least amount of turnovers in a game.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
For the third time this season, the Bulldogs scored over 100 points, which is the first time since the 2016-17 season that Asheville has surpassed the century mark against a Division I opponent.
MARSH MADNESS
Jordan Marsh had a game-high 29 points and eight assists, with 16 of his points coming in the first half and 13 in the second. Marsh was 7-11 from the field in the first half and 3-6 in the second. Both Marsh's points and assists were a career-high for the sophomore. Marsh added four boards, a block, and a steal to his stat line.
OFF HIS BACK!?!
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 4, 2025
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? #SportsCenterTop10 #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/OVHJgcH4eT
20/20 VISION
Toyaz Solomon and Josh Banks reached the 20-point mark alongside Marsh, with Solomon recording 22 points and Banks with 20. Solomon led the team with a .786 shooting percentage, as he was 11-14 from the field. Banks led the team with three triples and three blocks. Solomon and Banks had five rebounds apiece.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Kameron Taylor recorded his eighth double-digit scoring outing of the season as he rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures with 12 points. Taylor was 3-8 from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. He added three assists and five rebounds to his final stat line.
AS A TEAM
The Bulldogs shot 50.7% from the field (35-69). Asheville outscored High Point 14-6 on turnovers.
FIRST HALF GETS MOMENTUM IN ASHEVILLE'S FAVOR
Banks started the game with a 3-pointer, and Solomon followed with Asheville's next eight points. Three consecutive 3-pointers for High Point put the Panthers ahead 14-9, but Solomon's fourth basket, followed by a dunk from Marsh and a layup from Taylor, helped put the Dogs back out in front (15-14).
There would go on to be five ties and five lead changes over the next five minutes of action, with High Point breaking the back-and-forth battle with an 8-2 run. Three jumpers from Marsh helped put Asheville within two, and back-to-back 3-pointers from Abee gave Asheville the lead 37-35. Asheville remained in the lead for the rest of the first half and entered the second frame ahead 47-43.
BULLDOGS REMAIN STEADY IN SECOND FRAME
The Panthers opened the second half with a layup and 3-pointer to retake the lead (48-47), but an old-fashioned 3-pointer from Greg Gantt Jr. helped put the Bulldogs back ahead by two. Gantt finished the contest with three points, four assists, and a team-high seven boards.
AND ONE FOR GG! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/qfLYOasgGd
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 4, 2025
High Point evened the score at 50 before Banks sank his second 3-pointer of the game. Banks' triple put Asheville ahead for the remainder of the contest, and the Bulldogs earned their largest lead of the game at 13 points (72-59). Marsh followed Banks' triple with a jumper, and Jemal Davis, over a minute later, sank his second 3-pointer of the season to put Asheville ahead by four (58-54).
J3MALLL!!!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/iczwYm4MiF
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 4, 2025
A trip to the free throw line for High Point put the Panthers down by two before a free throw from Davis, and a jumper from Marsh sparked an 11-0 run for Asheville. Taylor followed Marsh's jumper with a layup, grabbed a rebound following a block from Banks, and an assist for Davis' dunk. Davis finished the game with six points. A successful trip to the free throw line and a layup from Marsh closed out Asheville's run.
With 5:06 left in the contest, Asheville led 87-77, but the Panthers quickly cut down on Asheville's lead, and within three minutes, High Point had the score tied at 88. Banks ended High Point's late-game momentum with a 3-pointer with one second on the shot clock that tilted the energy back in Asheville's favor.
WITH ONE SECOND ON THE SHOT CLOCK!! JOSH BANKS!!!! #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/N8N7gEUEfR
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 4, 2025
With less than a minute to go, Banks found Solomon at the rim for a dunk to help further secure the momentum for Asheville as the Bulldogs led 95-88. The Panthers made it a one-possession game with 32 seconds remaining following a free throw, but back-to-back successful trips to the charity stripe for Taylor and Banks helped secure the lead for Asheville and give the Bulldogs the conference opening victory.
POSTGAME NOTES
Saturday's win marks the fifth year in a row that Asheville has won its conference opener. The Bulldogs are now 7-0 at home, 10-5 overall, and 1-0 in conference play.
Asheville will return to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 8, as the Bulldogs travel to Longwood for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
To stay updated with Asheville men's basketball, follow the team on 𝕩.
