University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Truett McConnell
EXHIBITION PREVIEW: UNC Asheville vs. Truett McConnell
10.27.2025 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team is set to take the floor at the newly renovated Kimmel Arena for the first time in the 2025-26 season on Tuesday (Oct. 28) as the Bulldogs host Truett McConnell in a preseason exhibition contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Admission to Tuesday's game is free for all fans. Spectators can visit Asheville's Game Day Central page for more information.
UNC Asheville is partnering with Bear's Smokehouse BBQ to be the official concession stand vendor at all home basketball games this season. Bear's will be serving food at tomorrow's exhibition game.
Tuesday's exhibition will not be streamed, but fans can keep up with the action by listening to News Radio 570 WWNC or with the live stats.
UNC Asheville enters the 2025-26 season after an exceptional campaign last season, which featured its third consecutive 20-win season and the most Big South Conference postseason awards in program history.
PRESEASON LOOKS
Asheville was picked to finish second in the Big South Conference preseason poll, with one first-place vote. Since the 2020-21 season, Asheville has been preseason picked in the top half of the league every season, with three second-place picks (the 2021-22 season, the league split into a north and south division, and Asheville was preseason picked second in the south division).
Toyaz Solomon became the sixth Bulldog in program history to be named Big South Preseason Player of the Year. Solomon was UNC Asheville's only player to start all 32 games last season, emerging as one of the Bulldogs' most consistent and impactful performers. He ranked second on the team in scoring (15.7 ppg) while leading in field goal percentage (.610), rebounds (7.2 rpg), and blocks (51). Within the Big South, Solomon finished sixth in scoring, fifth in rebounding, and first in blocks and is the league's returning leader in all those categories. Solomon has also garnered Blue Ribbon Big South Preseason Player of the Year and Field of 68 Preseason Mid-Major All-American Second Team recognition.
Kameron Taylor enters this season with All-Big South Preseason Second Team honors. The freshman from Charlotte, N.C., was a reliable sixth man for the Bulldogs last year, finishing as Asheville's fifth-leading scorer, averaging 8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
THE MATCHUP
This will be the first time in program history that Asheville will face Truett McConnell. TMU is a member of the NAIA and in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Asheville will face three more NAIA institutions this season, first Bryan on Nov. 13, then Kentucky Christian on Dec. 16, and Morris College on Dec. 18.
BULLDOGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay updated with Asheville men's basketball, follow the team on 𝕩.
