University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men’s Basketball Finalizes 2025-26 Schedule with Non-Conference Dates
10.02.2025 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team has finalized the non-conference portion of its 2025-26 schedule.
The Bulldogs' out-of-league schedule features eight home contests, two neutral-site games, and five road challenges. One of Asheville's nine home games will be an exhibition contest against Truett McConnell on Oct. 28.
Non-Conference Schedule
10/28/2025 vs Truett McConnell University (exhibition)11/4/2025 at Wichita State
11/8/2025 at Georgia Southern University
11/11/2025 vs Lipscomb University
11/13/2025 vs Bryan College (Tenn.)
11/19/2025 at Western Carolina University
11/25/2025 vs Tennessee State University
11/30/2025 vs Appalachian State (Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville)
12/2/2025 vs UNC Greensboro (Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville)
12/6/2025 at NC State University
12/10/2025 vs Miami University (OH)
12/13/2025 vs University of St. Thomas
12/16/2025 vs Kentucky Christian University
12/18/2025 vs Morris College
12/21/2025 at UAB
A Look at the Competition
Asheville opens the season on Nov. 4 at Wichita State. This is Asheville's first time facing the Shockers, who went 19-15 and 8-10 in the American Conference. The Bulldogs will face Georgia Southern on Nov. 8 in Statesboro, Ga., marking the first time the two teams have squared off. Last season, the Eagles went 17-16 and 8-10 in the Sun Belt.
Asheville opens its home portion of the 2025-26 schedule with two games inside Kimmel Arena, with the home opener being on Nov. 11 against Lipscomb. Asheville and Lipscomb last faced each other in 2023, when the two teams squared off in the Northern Classic in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Bison won that contest 86-75. Last season, Lipscomb went 25-10 and 14-4 in the ASun Conference. The Bison were the ASun Conference Champions and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Asheville completes that week by hosting Bryan College out of the NAIA on Nov. 13.
The Bulldogs will travel to Western Carolina for the Mountain Rivalry on Nov. 19. The Bulldogs won last year's contest inside Kimmel Arena 78-61 and will be looking to win in Cullowhee for the first time since 2021. Asheville's 2021 win at Western marked the Bulldogs' first Mountain Rivalry road win since 2007.
The Bulldogs return to Kimmel Arena to host Tennessee State on Nov. 25 after traveling to face the Tigers last year in Nashville. Asheville is 1-0 against TSU.
Asheville will then turn its attention to the Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, where the Bulldogs will face App State on Nov. 30 and UNC Greensboro on Dec. 2. For more information and how to purchase tickets for those two contests, click here.
For the first time since Head Coach Mike Morrell's inaugural season, the Bulldogs will head to Raleigh to face NC State on Dec. 6. NC State's new head coach, Will Wade, coached alongside Morrell at VCU.
The Bulldogs will return to Kimmel Arena on Dec. 10 to kick off a four-game home stretch. Asheville will host Miami (OH) to begin the final home leg of the non-conference schedule. This will be the first time the two teams have played each other. Last season, Miami went 25-9 and 14-4 MAC, and advanced to the conference championship before falling to Akron by two points in the championship game.
St. Thomas will travel to Asheville on Dec. 13 for the two teams' first-ever contest. The Tommies went 24-10 and 12-4 in the Summit League and advanced to the conference championship before falling to Omaha.
The Bulldogs close out their home stretch by hosting NAIA institutions Kentucky Christian on Dec. 16 and Morris College on Dec. 18. The Bulldogs' final non-conference game of the season will be at UAB on Dec. 21. Asheville last played the Blazers on Dec. 29, 2023, and fell 90-85 in Birmingham. The Blazers went 24-13 and 13-5 in American action. UAB lost to Memphis in the AAC title game, but went on to compete in the NIT.
For a look at Asheville's Big South Conference schedule, click here. The 2026 Big South Men's Basketball Tournament will be played March 4-8 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tenn.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased online HERE. All ticket inquiries can be directed to Harmon Turner at hturner@unca.edu, or fans can visit the Ticket Central page.