University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Wichita State
GAME PREVIEW: UNC Asheville at Wichita
11.03.2025 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- Game 1
- UNC Asheville (0-0) at Wichita (0-0)
- Tuesday, November 4, 2025
- 7:30 p.m. EST
- Wichita, Kan. || Charles Koch Arena
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Tickets
A LOOK AT TEAM EIGHT UNDER COACH MORRELL
Head Coach Mike Morrell will officially begin his eighth season at the helm of the UNC Asheville men's basketball program with Tuesday night's contest. The past four seasons mark the most successful stretch in program history, including three campaigns with 20 or more wins. Asheville has won 87 games in the last four years, with Morrell earning his 100th career win this past season. Morrell became the fastest coach - men's or women's - in UNC Asheville basketball history to reach 100 wins. Morrell is just the second coach in program history and 18th in Big South history, to reach this milestone during the DI era. Among the league, Morrell is the ninth-fastest coach to reach 100 wins and is 15th in all-time wins with 116. Under Morrell's tutelage, the Bulldogs went 13-1 inside Kimmel Arena during the 2024-25 season. Asheville has a .926 winning percentage and a 38-3 record in Kimmel Arena over the last three seasons, the third-highest home winning percentage in the nation.
This season, Morrell's team consists of eight returners and eight newcomers. Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year Toyaz Solomon is among Asheville's top returners this season. Solomon became the sixth Bulldog in program history 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.
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).
EXHIBITION RECAP
The Bulldogs hosted Truett McConnell in an exhibition game last Tuesday (Oct. 28), with Asheville rolling past the Bears 92-54.
The Bulldogs controlled the game from the start, jumping out to a double-digit lead midway through the first half and never looking back. Asheville shot 50 percent from the field (28-for-56) and scored 42 points in the paint while holding the Bears to a 28.6% shooting night and 22 points in the paint.
Kameron Taylor paced the Bulldogs with a team-high 19 points to go with five assists and two rebounds, both offensive. Toyaz Solomon posted a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double and added four assists and two blocks. Senior transfer DJ Patrick knocked down four threes en route to 16 points, and freshman Myles Mayfield grabbed nine rebounds and scored seven points.
Other newcomers that had notable performances included Mitchell Taylor (9 pts, 7-8 FT, five rbs, two asts) and Daniel Thomas (7 pts, 6rbs).
ROAD TESTED
Asheville opens its season on the road for the fifth straight year with the Bulldogs' trip to Wichita. After traveling to Georgia Southern on Saturday, Nov. 8, the Bulldogs will make their Kimmel Arena debut three days later, hosting Lipscomb on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Asheville's November slate includes three road games, three home games, and one neutral-site contest in Downtown Asheville. In December, the Bulldogs will play five of their eight games at Kimmel Arena, plus another in Downtown Asheville.
Last season, Asheville opened with seven straight road games and didn't play at home until Dec. 7, making them one of the final four teams in the country to host a home game.
A LOOK AT THE SHOCKERS
Wichita went 19-15 (8-10 American) last season, and is predicted to finish fifth in the American Preseason Coaches Poll. Kenyon Giles was named to the American Preseason All-Conference First Team. Giles is no stranger to the Big South, as he spent his first two seasons of college action at Radford. He then transferred to UNC Greensboro and is spending his senior season with the Shockers. While a Spartan, Giles averaged over 15 points per game on 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Wichita has 12 newcomers to this year's roster with only three returners. Last season, the Shockers appeared in the National Invitation Tournament and fell to Oklahoma State in the first round (79-86).
The Shockers are coached by Paul Mills, who is beginning his third season in Wichita. In two seasons, Mills has a 34-34 record with the Shockers.
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