University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
17-6,8-1Big South
Gardner-Webb
9-14,4-6Big South
Asheville Sweeps Season Series with 78-70 Win Over Gardner-Webb
02.07.2025 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The lights were bright in Kimmel Arena on Thursday for the UNC Asheville men's basketball team, as the Bulldogs defeated Gardner-Webb 78-70 in the Big South Conference's third ESPNU Wildcard game of the season.
HOME SWEET HOME
Asheville extended its winning streak in Kimmel Arena to 11-0 following Thursday's victory. The Bulldogs are one of 21 teams who have not lost at home this season.
LUCKY SEVEN
Asheville is now on a seven-game winning streak, which puts them tied for 10th in the nation for the longest win streak.
REDEMPTION SWEEP
With Thursday's win, Asheville sweeps the regular-season series with Gardner-Webb, after beating the Runnin' Bulldogs in Boiling Springs 61-53 on Jan. 22. The win completes Asheville's series redemption sweep over Gardner-Webb after the Runnin' Bulldogs took both regular-season games from Asheville during the 2023-24 season. Asheville is now on a three-game winning streak over Gardner-Webb, following the Bulldogs' 83-72 overtime win in the semifinal round of the Big South Conference tournament.
DOUBLE-DIGIT DOGS
For the 16th time this season, four or more Bulldogs finished with double-digit points, led by Jordan Marsh with 26. Marsh was followed by Toyaz Solomon with 17, Fletcher Abee with 14, and Josh Banks with 10.
Marsh and Greg Gantt Jr. led Asheville with six rebounds apiece. Solomon had a team-high four assists. Gantt led the team with three blocks, and Solomon had two. Marsh had a team-high four steals.
Marsh and Abee led Asheville with two 3-pointers each, and Marsh led the team with eight baskets, followed by Solomon, who went 6-7 from the field. As a team, Asheville shot 50.9% from the field.
ROUND ONE
After the first 20 minutes of action, the teams entered halftime tied at 35. Gardner-Webb held the lead for the majority of the opening frame, as the Runnin' Bulldogs were ahead for 12:59, while Asheville led for just 2:11. The teams were tied eight separate times in the first half.
With 14:53 to go, Jemal Davis helped Asheville take a two-point lead before the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with the next nine points to take their largest lead of the half at seven points. The Runnin' Bulldogs held the lead up until a free throw from Banks with 1:23 remaining evened the score at 31. Gardner-Webb moved back in the lead, but a free throw and a jumper from Marsh helped Asheville retake a 2-point lead before a layup from Gardner-Webb at the end of the half tied the score at 35.
Marsh led Asheville with 17 points in the first half.
ROUND TWO
Out of the break, Gardner-Webb jumped back in the lead, and the Bulldogs were unable to get back out front until a jumper from Gantt with 13:49 to go put Asheville ahead by one (47-46). Abee followed shortly after with a 3-pointer to extend Asheville's lead out to four. This was the first time that one of the teams held a two-possession lead since 2:01 remained in the first half.
With 8:24 remaining, a 3-pointer from GWU put the Runnin' Bulldogs back ahead by one before Banks answered with a 3-pointer of his own. Banks' 3-pointer sparked a 12-2 run by Asheville, and the Bulldogs pulled ahead 69-60 with 4:57 left in the contest. A jumper from Marsh gave Asheville its largest lead of the night at 11 points with 4:13 remaining (72-61). The Bulldogs led by six points or more for the remainder of the game.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs move to 17-6 overall and 8-1 in Big South play. It's a quick turnaround for the Bulldogs, as Asheville travels to High Point on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
