University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Western Carolina
11.06.2026 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 7) as the Bulldogs host Western Carolina University in Kimmel Arena in the annual Mountain Rivalry.
GAME DETAILS
- Game 3
- UNC Asheville (1-1) vs. Western Carolina (0-1)
- Saturday, November 7
- 5:30 p.m.
- Kimmel Arena || Asheville, NC
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Radio
- Game Sponsor: Ingles
- Tickets
GAME PROMOTIONS
- Blue Out!!
- First 500 fans to the game get a free jersey shirt.
- Students in attendance can enter for a chance at a drawing for a reserved parking spot. The winner will be announced in the second half, and must be present.
EARLIER THIS WEEK
The Bulldogs are 1-1 entering Saturday's Mountain Rivalry showdown. The Bulldogs dropped their season opener on Monday to Richmond but bounced back and defeated Erskine on Wednesday 101-74.
Through the first two games of the 2026-27 season, several Bulldogs have delivered strong performances for UNC Asheville. Connor Dubsky leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting 47.1% from three-point range, including a career-high-tying six three-pointers against Erskine. Daniel Thomas is averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 10.0 rebounds per game, highlighted by a career-high 17 points against Erskine. Khayri Dunn follows with 12.5 points per game, while Myles Mayfield is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, shooting an impressive 69.2% from the field. Tylon Chatman has also made an immediate impact as a facilitator, leading the Bulldogs with 11 assists, including a career-high-tying nine against Erskine. Ja'Corey Lipkins has contributed 8.5 points per game and recorded a career-high five assists in Wednesday's home opener.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Western Carolina enters Saturday's Mountain Rivalry matchup with an 0-1 record after falling to North Carolina, 80-72, in its season opener Monday night in Chapel Hill.
Jaxon Prunty led the Catamounts with 18 points, while Jaeden Roberts followed with 17. Western Carolina twice cut its second-half deficit to just one point before the Tar Heels used a late 13-2 run to pull away. The Catamounts knocked down 10 three-pointers in the contest and shot 81.5% from the free-throw line.
Western Carolina featured nine players making their Catamount debuts in Monday's opener, including Prunty and Roberts. Despite the loss, the Catamounts committed just nine turnovers while pulling down 41 rebounds.
MOUNTAIN RIVALRY HISTORY
Saturday's matchup between UNC Asheville and Western Carolina continues a rivalry that dates back to the 1929-30 season. The two Western North Carolina programs have met 59 times, with Western Carolina holding a 34-25 advantage in the all-time series.
The Bulldogs and Catamounts last met on Nov. 19, 2025, in Cullowhee, where Western Carolina came away with the victory. Saturday's contest brings the Mountain Rivalry back to Kimmel Arena as Asheville looks to defend its home court and add another chapter to the nearly century-old rivalry.
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's contest, Asheville heads to the Peach State for its next two matchups. The Bulldogs will first travel to West Georgia on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Asheville will then head to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m., marking the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets in 21 years.
The Bulldogs return to Kimmel Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to host Tennessee Tech at 6:30 p.m.
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