Bulldogs Close Non-Conference Home Slate with 89–56 Win Over Morris

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team closed its non-conference home slate on Thursday with an 89–56 victory over Morris, as all 13 Bulldogs who saw action found their way into the scoring column.

BULLDOG BITES

Justin Wright led Asheville with 21 points, shooting an efficient 8-for-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Toyaz Solomon recorded his third double-double of the season and second of the week, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Sage Tolentino narrowly missed a double-double, tallying nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Eight of those boards came on the offensive glass, marking the first time an Asheville player has pulled down eight offensive rebounds since Solomon accomplished the feat against Central Arkansas on Nov. 24, 2024. Tolentino also added a game-high five assists.

Tolentino and Solomon's double-digit rebounding performances marked the first time Asheville has had two players record double-digit boards in the same game since Nick McMullen and Josh Banks each grabbed 11 rebounds against Kennesaw State on Dec. 23, 2023.

Toyaz Solomon and Sage Tolentino combined for 24 rebounds, with Tolentino recording eight of our 19 offensive boards, making them the @JaniKingClean Players of the Game! 🧼#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/3veoK1UHl0
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) December 19, 2025

Kameron Taylor also dished out a game-high five assists, while contributing five points and five rebounds. DJ Patrick scored nine points on three triples and tied for the team lead with two steals alongside Tolentino. Jakel Powell finished with eight points, with six coming from long range, while Myles Mayfield added six points, seven rebounds, and a team-high two blocks.

Daniel Thomas chipped in four points and four rebounds, David Hermes scored two points, and Corey Jones, Julian Clarke, Rasheed Baldwin, and Hugo Maton each knocked down a 3-pointer.

With every player who entered the game scoring both tonight and in Asheville's win on Tuesday against Kentucky Christian, the Bulldogs accomplished the feat in back-to-back games for the first time since last season against St. Andrews (Dec. 7, 2024) and Bluefield (Dec. 11, 2024).

As a team, Asheville shot 46.2% from the field (30-of-65), 36.8% from 3-point range (14-of-38), and 71.4% from the free-throw line (15-of-21). The Bulldogs also recorded 54 rebounds, their highest total since grabbing 57 boards against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Dec. 19, 2024.

ON THE COURT

Asheville's offense found its rhythm midway through the first half, as Wright scored 11 points in a 2:17 stretch. The run began with a 3-pointer at the 12:35 mark and ended with another triple at 10:18, giving the Bulldogs their first double-digit lead of the game at 21–10.

5️⃣5️⃣ 😤 pic.twitter.com/9fGbJ0GJpN
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) December 18, 2025

The Bulldogs entered halftime ahead by 18 (41–23) following a Mayfield putback basket and continued to build their advantage throughout the second half. Maton's 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining capped the scoring and gave Asheville its largest lead of the night at 33 points.

HUGO!!! pic.twitter.com/rSiFN461gm
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) December 19, 2025

UP NEXT

Asheville closes its non-conference schedule on the road at UAB on Sunday, Dec. 21, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. EST.

The Bulldogs return to Kimmel Arena for the Big South Conference opener against High Point on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m.