University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
13-15,7-7Big South
Radford
15-14,8-6Big South
Homecoming Heroics: Asheville Tops Radford in Overtime
02.21.2026 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – There was no place like home inside Kimmel Arena on Saturday (Feb. 21), as Asheville celebrated Homecoming with a thrilling 74–73 overtime victory over Radford.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a tightly contested battle featuring 11 ties and 10 lead changes. Asheville built its largest lead of the first half at seven points—reaching that margin three times—beginning with a 9–2 run to open the game.
DT DUNK #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/H5sO6g60ik
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 21, 2026
With 7:36 remaining in the half, Asheville held a six-point advantage following a steal and a basket from Kameron Taylor, but Radford answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to even the score at 23. The game was tied again at 30 before a Radford triple with 2:36 left gave the Highlanders a 33–30 edge. A jumper from Justin Wright with 1:35 remaining trimmed the deficit to one, sending Asheville into the break trailing 33–32.
The teams traded punches early in the second half, with Radford stretching its lead to five with 5:05 to play. Wright responded with back-to-back baskets to pull Asheville within one inside four minutes. After the Highlanders regained a two-point lead, Toyaz Solomon delivered a clutch jumper in the paint in the final seconds to tie the game at 66 and force overtime.
TAY TIES IT UP #ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/FUw1OVT2UX
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 21, 2026
Solomon stayed hot to open overtime, knocking down a jumper and scoring six of Asheville's eight points in the extra period. Radford tied the game at 70, but back-to-back baskets from Solomon pushed Asheville ahead by four. The Highlanders cut the margin to one with 1:22 remaining, and Asheville sealed the victory with key defensive stops down the stretch.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Toyaz Solomon led Asheville with 23 points and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. The senior went 10-for-18 from the field while adding two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Justin Wright followed with 21 points, including 13 in the second half, shooting 10-for-16 from the floor.
Kameron Taylor added 16 points with three 3-pointers and led the team with six assists and three steals while also recording two blocks.
3 ➡️ 3#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/vxISQVW2tS
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 21, 2026
Myles Mayfield and DJ Patrick each scored five points, with Mayfield grabbing eight rebounds, while Daniel Thomas finished with four points.
IN THE BOX
Asheville shot 31-of-65 from the field (47.7%), while Radford finished 22-of-59 (37.3%). The Highlanders connected on 10 3-pointers compared to five by the Bulldogs and went 19-of-30 at the free-throw line, while Asheville finished 7-of-14.
Radford held a narrow 41–38 rebounding advantage, including a 13–10 edge on the offensive glass. Asheville forced 12 Highlander turnovers while committing just eight and recorded eight steals.
The Bulldogs dominated the paint, outscoring Radford 48–20.
J WRIGHT 💪#ALLinAVL #IWWD pic.twitter.com/0NzBf9C4Fs
— Asheville Basketball (@UNCAvlMBB) February 21, 2026
Asheville's 31 made field goals marked the second time in Big South play this season the Bulldogs reached that total, also doing so against Radford back on Jan. 10.
Today's overtime win marked Asheville's first in extra time since defeating Gardner-Webb, 83–72, in the semifinals of the 2024 Big South Championship (March 9, 2024). It was also the Bulldogs' first overtime victory in Big South regular-season play since an 88–80 win over Presbyterian on Jan. 25, 2023—the same night Bulldog alum Drew Pember set the program's single-game scoring record with 48 points.
BIG SOUTH STANDINGS
With one week remaining in the regular season following today's slate of games, Asheville's win, coupled with Presbyterian's loss to USC Upstate, moved the Bulldogs back into a tie for fourth at 7-7. Radford holds third at 8-6, while Longwood sits sixth at 7-8 after a double-overtime win over Charleston Southern. High Point defeated Winthrop to clinch a share of the regular-season title. The Panthers and Lancers have one game remaining, while the rest of the league has two left to play.
UP NEXT
Asheville concludes its road conference slate at Gardner-Webb on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in Boiling Springs before hosting Charleston Southern in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. in Kimmel Arena.
