University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Longwood
GAME PREVIEW: No. 4 Bulldogs to Face No. 5 Lancers in Quarterfinals of Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championship
03.05.2026 | Men's Basketball
GAME DETAILS
- Game 31
- No. 4 UNC Asheville (14-16, 8-8) vs No. 5 Longwood (16-15, 8-8)
- Friday, March 6, 2026
- 6 p.m.
- Freedom Hall Civic Center || Johnson City, Tenn.
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Radio
- Tickets
- UNC Asheville Tournament Page
- History
PREGAME FAN GATHERING
Join fellow Bulldog fans at Burg'r & Barrel before Friday's men's basketball game for food, refreshments, and great company.
Event Details
Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
Time: 3:30–5:00 p.m. (prior to the 6 p.m. men's game)
Location: Burg'r & Barrel 330 Cherry St., Johnson City, TN 37604
To help us plan how much food to order, please let us know if you plan to attend the event by filling out this survey.
SEEDING HISTORY
This will be the second time since 2019 that Asheville has entered the Big South Tournament as the No. 4 seed, as the Bulldogs were the No. 4 seed in 2021. The No. 4 seed in the conference tournament has won the Big South Championship six times and appeared in the finals eight times. The last time a No. 4 seed won the conference title and made a finals appearance was in 2019, when Gardner-Webb did so.
This will be the fourth time Asheville will face Longwood in the conference tournament, with the Lancers holding a 3-0 record in tournament play. The last time the two squads faced off was in the Title Game in 2024.
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
UNC Asheville placed five players on the Big South All-Conference teams following the conclusion of the regular season. The Big South Conference recognized Kameron Taylor on the All-Conference First Team, while Toyaz Solomon earned Second Team honors. Freshmen Myles Mayfield and Daniel Thomas were selected to the All-Freshman Team, and DJ Patrick was named to the All-Academic Team.
Taylor leads the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), assists (93), and field goals made, while ranking second in rebounds (5.0 rpg) and blocks (20). He has played in every game this season, averaging 34.2 minutes per contest and impacting the game in virtually every phase.
Taylor's versatility allows him to score at all three levels, rebound effectively, and create opportunities for teammates. In conference play, he has elevated his performance even further, averaging 21.7 points per game while shooting .472 from the field. He leads the Big South with 16 games of 20 or more points, including 10 outings between 20-24 points.
Solomon is averaging 16.3 points per game while leading the team with 7.3 rebounds per contest and 39 blocks, anchoring both ends of the floor. He has recorded 10 games of 20 or more points and eight double-doubles this season, using his physical presence inside, efficiency around the rim, and rim protection ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Mayfield is averaging 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while adding 11 blocks on the season. He has appeared in every game this year, providing valuable depth and a physical presence in the paint.
Thomas worked his way into 17 starts and started all but three conference contests, embracing the responsibility of anchoring the interior. In league play, Thomas averaged 3.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while recording 10 blocks.
Patrick carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies. On the floor, Patrick is averaging 9.9 points per game and leads the team with 70 three-pointers this season. He also leads the conference in minutes played per game at 34.9. Patrick scored a career-high 24 points against Radford on Jan. 10, knocking down seven three-pointers.
CONFERENCE PLAY OVERVIEW
Asheville's 8–8 league finish marks the seventh straight season the Bulldogs have won at least eight conference games and the 17th time in the last 18 seasons they have reached that milestone.
Four of Asheville's conference losses were decided by a single possession, including two one-point defeats. Five of the Bulldogs' wins came by nine points or more. Asheville ranks No. 2 in the Big South in opponent scoring, holding league opponents to an average of 72.4 points per game. The Bulldogs were 7–0 in conference play when making at least seven three-pointers.
As a team, Asheville led the Big South with eight games featuring multiple players scoring 20 or more points, including two contests in which three Bulldogs each reached the 20-point mark. Kameron Taylor leads the Big South with 11 conference games of 20 or more points.
Against High Point on Feb. 19, Asheville recorded 10 team blocks, with seven Bulldogs registering at least one. It marked the program's first double-digit block performance against a Big South opponent since 2014.
Asheville accounts for four of the conference's top six players in minutes per game, led by DJ Patrick at 34:57. Kameron Taylor ranks second at 34:16, Toyaz Solomon is fourth at 32:55, and Justin Wright is sixth at 32:24. Patrick has played every minute in four games this season.
Justin Wright started and played in every game for Asheville during the regular season. In league play, he was second on the team in points per game, averaging 16.4, led the team with 51 assists and 17 steals, and had the highest team free throw percentage at 78.9%.
The Bulldogs collected six weekly honors during the season, including three Big South Player of the Week awards and three Freshman of the Week honors.
A LOOK AT LONGWOOD
Asheville swept the regular-season series against the Lancers, defeating Longwood 72-61 in Kimmel Arena on Jan. 7 and again on ESPNU in Farmville, Va., 79-74.
Longwood also finished 8–8 in league play, with Asheville's sweep giving the Bulldogs the edge in the conference tournament seedings.
Longwood's Elijah Tucker was named to the All-Big South Honorable Mention Team. Tucker anchors the Lancers' interior attack, leading the team with 12.5 points per game while starting all 31 contests. His impact increased during conference play, where he averaged 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and recorded seven double-doubles. Tucker also made a strong impact on the offensive glass, averaging 3.1 offensive rebounds per game in league play and helping Longwood secure a tie for fourth place in the Big South standings.
Longwood enters the conference tournament on a two-game win streak after defeating Charleston Southern in double overtime, 107-96, on Feb. 21, before earning a 90-74 victory over Radford on Feb. 28.
The Lancers rank No. 19 in the nation and second in the Big South in turnovers forced per game (14.81). Alphonzo Billups III ranks second in the league in total steals with 49 and third in steals per game (1.58).
Jacoi Hutchinson leads the conference in free throw percentage, shooting 87.2% from the line.
OVERALL STATISTICAL COMPARISON
| 2025-26 Season | Asheville | Longwood |
| Scoring Offense | 73.1 | 77.5 |
| Scoring Defense | 72.6 | 73.7 |
| Scoring Margin | 0.5 | 3.8 |
| FG Percentage | .456 | .462 |
| FG Pct. Defense | .445 | .451 |
| 3PT Percentage | .350 | .321 |
| FT Percentage | .686 | .743 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 34.8 | 36.9 |
| Assists Per Game | 11.1 | 12.8 |
| Turnovers Per Game | 12.0 | 14.0 |
| Steals Per Game | 5.6 | 8.7 |
| Blocks Per Game | 3.6 | 2.4 |
BULLDOGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay updated with Asheville men's basketball, follow the team on 𝕩.
