University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-12,4-4Big South
Gardner-Webb
3-20,1-7Big South
Bulldogs Lock Down Gardner-Webb in 69–50 Home Win
01.29.2026 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Four Bulldogs found their way into the double-digit scoring column, with Daniel Thomas leading the way with a double-double to help the UNC Asheville men's basketball team to a 69–50 victory in Kimmel Arena on Thursday.
Asheville's hot shooting in the first half helped propel the Bulldogs to an early lead, as Asheville led 41–27 at the half and shot 58.3% from the field. Eight of Asheville's 14 baskets in the first frame came from 3-point range.
Asheville never trailed and never allowed Gardner-Webb to tie the score. Daniel Thomas started Asheville's scoring with a putback layup two minutes into the contest. Thomas went on to record his first career double-double, finishing with 13 rebounds and 10 points. Seven of his rebounds were offensive, and eight of his boards came in the second frame.
DAAANNNNNN 💪@danthomas_13#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/NUnqP38Llb
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 30, 2026
Out of the third media timeout, DJ Patrick sank a 3-pointer to give Asheville its first double-digit lead (27–15). Patrick finished with a game-high 16 points with five triples, while adding six boards, two steals and two blocks to his stat line.
3J PATRICK!! 🔥#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/s5FQ6xxqUC
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) January 30, 2026
In the final two minutes of play, Gardner-Webb brought Asheville's lead back down to single digits, but a 3-pointer from Justin Wright with a little over a minute to go helped Asheville get back to a double-digit lead (39–27). Wright also had a game-high 16 points, adding six assists, three steals and four rebounds to his final stat line.
The final Bulldog in double-digit scoring was Kameron Taylor, with all 12 of his points coming in the first half.
Asheville held a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half, with Toyaz Solomon accounting for the largest lead of the night for Asheville with a 3-pointer to make the score 68–45. Solomon finished with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The Bulldogs finished the night 23-of-53 from the field (43.4%) and 10-of-24 from 3-point range (41.7%). Asheville held Gardner-Webb to 38.5% shooting from the field and 27.3% from 3-point range. Asheville committed just 10 fouls, as Gardner-Webb went 4-of-7 from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs outrebounded Gardner-Webb 38–30, with Asheville grabbing 13 offensive boards compared to Gardner-Webb's eight. Asheville forced the Runnin' Bulldogs to commit 13 turnovers, and Asheville had eight points off turnovers.
Asheville (10-12, 4-4 BSC) will be back in action on Saturday, as the Bulldogs travel to face Winthrop to begin the second half of Big South Conference play at 2 p.m. in Rock Hill, S.C.
