Asheville Falls on the Road at Winthrop

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team had the score tied at 29 with a little over four minutes remaining in the first half, but Winthrop closed the half on a 14–4 run to take control and went on to defeat the Bulldogs, 84–71, on Saturday.

It was a low-scoring affair for the majority of the first half, with Winthrop leading 20–18 entering the third media timeout. Out of the break, the Eagles took a seven-point lead, but Kameron Taylor went on a 7–0 run to tie the score at 29. Taylor knocked down Asheville's lone three-pointer of the first half and finished the frame with 11 points. The 29–29 tie ended up being the only tie of the game, as Winthrop connected on four three-pointers in the final four minutes of the first half to take a double-digit lead into the second frame.

Winthrop extended its lead to as many as 18 points in the second half, using efficient perimeter shooting and consistent trips to the free throw line to keep Asheville at bay. Both teams connected on 23 shots from the field, but Asheville only sank five three-pointers compared to Winthrop's 13. The Eagles went 25-of-29 from the free throw line, with Logan Duncomb going 18-of-19, while Asheville went 20-of-24, with Taylor going 10-for-10.

Taylor led Asheville with 25 points, marking his eighth conference game of 20-or-more points. He also led Asheville with three triples and two blocks. Justin Wright followed with 21 points, going 9-of-16 from the field. Wright and Taylor's 20-point outings give the Bulldogs nine games this season with two-or-more players scoring 20+ points in a contest.

Toyaz Solomon finished with 14 points, adding two steals, two blocks, two assists and three rebounds to his stat line. DJ Patrick led Asheville with six rebounds.

Winthrop won the rebounding battle, 35–27, but Asheville committed eight turnovers compared to the Eagles' 12. Asheville outscored Winthrop in the paint, 30–20, and off the bench, 34–15.

The Bulldogs (10–13, 4–5) return to the court on Wednesday, February 4, in Kimmel Arena, as Asheville hosts USC Upstate at 6:30 p.m.