University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-12,3-4Big South
USC Upstate
9-12,1-5Big South
Bulldogs Claim Ingles I-26 Rivalry Road Win at USC Upstate
01.21.2026 | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Kameron Taylor recorded his seventh consecutive 20-point performance to lead the UNC Asheville men's basketball team to an 83–69 road victory over USC Upstate on Wednesday evening at the G.B. Hodge Center.
Taylor finished with a team-high 27 points, becoming the only Bulldog on record to score 20 or more points in each of his first seven conference games. He went 8-for-15 from the field, 9-for-12 from the free-throw line, and knocked down two 3-pointers.
The only Bulldog on record to score 20+ in each of his first seven conference games 👏#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/N3tlC6PhPN
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 22, 2026
Taylor was joined in double figures by three teammates. Justin Wright added 20 points to extend his double-digit scoring streak to 17 games, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe while dishing out six assists. Toyaz Solomon contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while DJ Patrick finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
As a team, Asheville shot 51.8 percent from the field, fueled by an efficient second half that saw the Bulldogs go 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the floor and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line. Asheville finished the night 17-of-22 at the stripe and limited USC Upstate to 44.3 percent shooting (27-of-61) and 8-of-15 from the free-throw line.
The Bulldogs controlled the contest from start to finish, improving to 9–12 overall and 3–4 in Big South play. Patrick opened the game with a 3-pointer to give Asheville an early edge. Although the Spartans tied the game four times in the first half, they never took the lead. The final tie came at 30–30 with 3:35 remaining before halftime. Just over a minute later, Solomon drained a 3-pointer to put Asheville ahead for good, and the Bulldogs went into the break leading 36–30.
Tay for THREE!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/Ux7LdjFqxE
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 21, 2026
Early in the second half, a 3-pointer from Wright helped Asheville secure its first double-digit lead at 48–38. USC Upstate trimmed the margin to four, but the Bulldogs responded with an 8–0 run to push the lead to 60–48, with Taylor scoring all eight points. Asheville built its largest lead of the night at 18 points following a Solomon steal that led to a Taylor dunk.
KT with the HAMMER!#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/FP5J0vEqYz
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 22, 2026
With the win, Asheville earned three points in the 2025–26 Ingles I-26 Rivalry. The Bulldogs entered the day holding a 12–6 series advantage, and after both Asheville basketball teams defeated Upstate on Wednesday, the Bulldogs now lead the rivalry 18–6.
UNC Asheville returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 29, when it hosts Gardner-Webb at Kimmel Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m., and will be the men's team's annual Blue Out game.
