GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Opens Big South Conference Play at Home Against High Point

GAME DETAILS

Game 15
UNC Asheville (6-8) vs High Point (12-3)
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
2 p.m.
Asheville, N.C. || Kimmel Arena
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Gameday Central

GAME PROMOTION

Wednesday's Big South Conference opener doubles as Rocky's New Year's Eve Bash, as the UNC Asheville Athletic Department partners with Slay the Mic to host a party matinee at Kimmel Arena. Fans can enjoy a Kid's Zone, a DJ, outside performances, a pregame ball drop, and $2 off alcoholic beverages for adults. Don't miss the festive atmosphere as the Bulldogs tip off conference play on New Year's Eve.

A LOOK AT ASHEVILLE'S NON-CONFERENCE SLATE

Asheville closed non-conference play leading the Big South and ranked No. 76 in toughest schedule played as reported by the NCAA on Dec. 30. Asheville's 11 Division I opponents so far this season have gone 82-52.
All but two of the Bulldogs' 11 Division I opponents are ranked ahead of Asheville in the latest NET rankings, and six are ranked in the top 137 nationally.
The Bulldogs enter Big South Conference play at 6-8, marking the fifth consecutive year they have won six or more non-conference contests.
Four of Asheville's losses have come within seven points or less, with all four contests coming down to free throws.
Asheville finishes non-conference play outscoring its opponents 1,032–1,019.
Asheville had three individuals rank in the top four in the Big South in minutes played per game during non-conference play. DJ Patrick leads the league and is No. 71 in the nation with 33:43 minutes per game, followed by Kameron Taylor at No. 2 with 32:35 and Justin Wright at No. 4 with 30:28.

WEEKLY HONORS SO FAR THIS SEASON

Asheville grabbed two Big South Weekly Honors during non-conference play, with Toyaz Solomon earning it on Dec. 1, following his performance against Tennessee State (Nov. 25) and App State (Nov. 30), and Myles Mayfield earning it on Dec. 15, following his performance on Dec. 10 against Miami and Dec. 13 against St. Thomas.
In Solomon's two games prior to his weekly honor, he averaged 23.0 points per game and shot 16-for-27 from the field (.593). Solomon led the team with 17 rebounds (8.5 per game) and added three assists, a block, and a steal to his stat line.
Solomon reached a new career-high against App State, as he scored 25 points after shooting .500 from the field and going 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Solomon later set a new career-high, as he scored 31 points in Asheville's overtime loss to Miami (OH).
Mayfield averaged 8.5 points a game, had a .875 field goal percentage, went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, and also grabbed 7.5 rebounds a game in his two games leading up to his weekly honor.
Mayfield dished out a season-high three assists against Miami (OH). Mayfield was the squad's top rebounder against St. Thomas with a season-best eight boards and was the team's leading scorer off the bench with seven points.

ASHEVILLE'S NUMBERS THROUGH 14 GAMES

The Bulldogs have four guys averaging double-digit points, led by Wright with 17.1, followed by Solomon with 16.7, Taylor with 15.5, and Patrick with 10.2.
Solomon leads the team with 89 made field goals, 6.8 rebounds per game, and 14 blocks.
Wright is leading the team with a .538 field goal percentage, a .472 three-point percentage, and 20 steals.
Taylor is leading the team with 58 made free throws, 48 assists, and is second on the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Patrick leads the team with 29 three-pointers.
Solomon has four double-doubles on the season, putting him tied in fourth in the league.

A LOOK AT HIGH POINT

The Panthers enter conference play 12-3 and are currently on a 4-0 win streak.
The Panthers dropped a neutral-site contest against App State on Dec. 14, 86-78, while the Bulldogs defeated the Mountaineers on Nov. 30, 67-55.
The Panthers have four guys averaging double-digit points, led by Fletcher Cam'Ron with 17.0 points per game. Cam'Ron is leading the team with 93 made field goals and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Rob Martin is averaging 14.0 points per game, Terry Anderson is averaging 12.9 points per game, and Conrad Martinez is averaging 11.7 points per game.
Chase Johnston is leading the team with 36 3-pointers, with all of his baskets this season coming from three-point range.
Owen Aquino is leading the team with 18 blocks and is second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game.
The Panthers' assist leader is Conrad Martinez with 67, while Rob Martin follows closely with 59. Martinez leads the league and is No. 9 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 4.47.
High Point's Caden Miller is this week's Big South Freshman of the Week as he averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 offensive rebounds, 2.5 blocked shots, and 1.5 assists in the team's two victories last week.
The Panthers lead the Big South in 15 categories and rank in the top 50 in the nation in 16 categories. The team's best ranking is in turnover margin, as the Panthers are No. 1 nationally with an 8.2. High Point is No. 2 nationally in steals per game (11.8) and fastbreak points (22.93).

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

2025-26 Season	Asheville	High Point
Scoring Offense	73.7	95.3
Scoring Defense	72.8	69.0
Scoring Margin	0.9	26.3
FG Percentage	.472	.523
FG Pct. Defense	.438	.421
3PT Percentage	.359	.383
FT Percentage	.703	.734
Rebounds Per Game	35.1	36.5
Assists Per Game	11.9	18.0
Turnovers Per Game	14.4	9.4
Steals Per Game	5.8	11.8
Blocks Per Game	2.9	3.3

SERIES HISTORY

Wednesday marks the 67th meeting between the Bulldogs and Panthers; their first meeting dates back to the 1967-68 season.
Asheville holds a 38-28 lead over High Point.
Last season, the two teams split their regular-season meetings, with Asheville defeating High Point 103-99 at home before falling 104-100 at High Point in overtime.
Since 1998, Asheville has a 22-7 home record against High Point and a 26-22 conference record.
The Bulldogs are 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against the Panthers.

TICKET PACKAGE SPECIAL

With Conference play about to get going, fans can purchase a six-game ticket package, which features the first three men's games and the first three women's games. For more information, click here or call the UNC Asheville Ticket Office at 828-258-7880.

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GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Opens Big South Conference Play at Home Against High Point

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Players Mentioned

Myles Mayfield

DJ Patrick

Toyaz Solomon

Kameron Taylor

Justin Wright

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

GAME PREVIEW: Men’s Basketball Opens Big South Conference Play at Home Against High Point

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Myles Mayfield

DJ Patrick

Toyaz Solomon

Kameron Taylor

Justin Wright

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