University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
USC Upstate
GAME PREVIEW: Asheville Travels to USC Upstate for Ingles I-26 Rivalry Matchup
02.11.2025 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- UNC Asheville (17-7, 8-2) vs. USC Upstate (5-21, 1-10)
- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
- 7 p.m.
- Spartanburg, S.C. || G.B. Hodge Center
- ESPN+
- Bulldog Radio Network
- Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The top two teams in the Big South Conference squared off in the Quebein Center on Saturday evening, and after 45 minutes of hard-fought action, the UNC Asheville men's basketball team fell 104-100 to the High Point Panthers.
Jordan Marsh set six new career-highs on Saturday and reached his career-high in rebounds for the fourth time, as Marsh finished with 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Marsh went 13-27 from the field and 6-12 from 3-point range. Marsh's rebounds were a team-high, and his 33 points were a game-high.
With 13.4 seconds left in regulation, the Panthers led 86-83 before Marsh sank a 3-pointer to even the score and send the contest into overtime. In overtime, High Point moved back into the lead and remained ahead for the rest of the game. Marsh brought the Panthers' lead down to one point with nine seconds remaining, but High Point closed the game with four made free throws to secure the victory.
DOUBLE-DIGIT DOGS
Four Bulldogs are averaging double-digit points, with Jordan Marsh leading the way with 18.7 averaged a game. In conference play, Marsh is averaging a league-best 24.4 points in Big South games this season, the highest points per game clip in conference action since 2018-19. In the nation, Marsh is No. 27 in field goals with 165, No. 29 in field goal attempts with 361, No. 40 in points with 449 and No. 47 in points per game with 18.7. Marsh leads the league with three games where he has scored 30-or-more points.
Toyaz Solomon averages 15.4 points per game and has scored double-figures in 23 of Asheville's 24 games. Solomon is in a 3-way tie for third for most double-doubles in the league with four. Solomon is No. 12 in the nation in field goal percentage with a .607, and No. 32 in field goals with 162.
Josh Banks averages 15.1 points per game and is in a three-way tie to lead the league at seven for most games with 20-24 points scored.
Fletcher Abee is the final Bulldog in double-figures with 11.0 points per game. Abee is No. 16 in the nation and leads the league with a 44.0% 3-point shooting percentage. Abee's from-distance shooting percentage is the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the league since 2022-23 when former Bulldog Tajion Jones held the top spot at 44.8%. Abee has made 186 3-pointers in his Bulldog career, which puts him at No. 8 in program records.
IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Asheville is in the top 50 in the nation in seven categories:
• No. 10 Scoring Offense: 84.5 (No. 2 in BSC)• No. 25 Turnover margin: 3.5 (No. 1 in BSC)
• No. 35 Fastbreak points: 13.88 (No. 1 in BSC)
• No. 42 Winning Percentage 73.9 (No. 2 in BSC)
• No. 45 Field goal percentage: 47.8 (No. 2 in BSC)
• No. 47 Free throw attempts per game 22.2 (No. 5 in BSC)
• No. 50 Turnovers per game: 10.5 (No. 1 in BSC)
BIG SOUTH LEADERBOARD
As a team, Asheville is No. 1 in the Big South Conference in seven categories:
• Assist/Turnover ratio: 1.42• Assists per game: 14.9
• Blocks per game: 4.3
• Fastbreak points: 13.88
• Three point percentage defense: 31.9
• Turnover Margin: 3.5
• Turnovers per game: 10.5
LAST TIME AGAINST USC UPSTATE
Josh Banks, Toyaz Solomon and Jordan Marsh combined for 61 points, with Marsh's final point being the game-winning free throw, as UNC Asheville defeated USC Upstate 93-92 on Jan.15 in Kimmel Arena.
With 2:31 remaining in the game, Greg Gantt Jr. forced a turnover and connected for a layup to put the Bulldogs ahead by eight (89-81). The Spartans responded with a 6-0 run to bring the game within two points with 1:16 remaining. Marsh took a trip to the free throw line and extended Asheville's lead to four before a 3-pointer from Upstate brought the game within one (91-90). A free throw by Fletcher Abee gave Asheville a 2-point lead back before Upstate's Karmani Gregory stormed to Upstate's basket and sank an equalizing layup with nine seconds left in the contest. Marsh inbounded the ball to Solomon, who immediately tossed it back to Marsh as he began to race against the clock down the court and drew a shooting foul with 1.2 seconds remaining. Marsh sank one of his two shots to give Asheville the 93-92 lead. With Upstate's final attempt to take the victory, the Spartans' inbound pass took the receiver out of bounds, and the Bulldogs were able to preserve its one-point victory.
A LOOK AT UPSTATE
Upstate enters Wednesday's contest following a 105-95 loss to Winthrop on Saturday (Feb. 8). The Spartans have four individuals averaging double-digit points, with Mister Dean leading the way with 15.6 points per game. He also leads the team with 5.3 rebounds per game, 14 blocks, and 48 steals. Brit Harris follows, averaging 11.3 points, Carmelo Adkins is averaging 10.5 points, and Karmani Gregory is averaging 10.1.
Adkins was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week after averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in two games last week.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
|
2024-25 Season |
Asheville |
USC Upstate |
| Scoring Offense | 84.5 | 74.9 |
| Scoring Defense | 75.9 | 83.2 |
| Scoring Margin | 8.6 | -8.3 |
| FG Percentage | .478 | .458 |
| FG Pct. Defense | .444 | .479 |
| 3PT Percentage | .356 | .301 |
| FT Percentage | .698 | .682 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 36.2 | 34.3 |
| Assists Per Game | 14.9 | 13.5 |
| Steals Per Game | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.3 | 2.2 |
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