Men's Basketball To Host Catawba

The Bulldogs seemed to have recovered from the rocky start to their season on Sunday night, when they clobbered Montreat 100-49. Five players scored in double figures for UNC Asheville and three others were within two points as the Bulldogs (2-6, 1-0) took advantage of a balanced attack and strong defensive effort to win their second straight. UNC Asheville will try to keep the streak alive on Tuesday evening when it hosts Division II Catawba, but the game will be no easy challenge. The Indians (5-3, 0-1) are the two-time defending champions of the South Atlantic Conference tournament and the favorite to win it again this year, thanks to the outstanding play of a trio of seniors.

Sean Smith knocked down 5-of-9 three-point attempts on Sunday night and led the Bulldogs with 18, but the supporting cast was just as impressive. J.P. Primm narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists - to go with only one turnover. John Williams went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to close the night with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Quinard Jackson and Chris Stephenson were also in double figures with 10 points apiece. D.J. Cunningham posted nine points, nine boards, and a game-high five blocks. The Bulldogs also got excellent bench production from Eric Stubbs (8 points, 3 blocks), and Jaron Lane (8 points, 8 rebounds). UNC Asheville outshot the Cavaliers 49% to 29% and turned the ball over only 9 times. The Bulldogs also dominated on the defensive end, outrebounding Montreat by a staggering 58-32 margin and recording 15 steals and 13 blocks.

One week after a last-second shot from Stephenson at Gardner-Webb gave the Bulldogs their first win of the season, UNC Asheville appeared to be hitting on all cylinders. Smith remains Asheville’s leading scorer at 11.4 PPG, and has improved his three-point shooting to over 35 percent despite a brutal early season shooting slump. Primm and Stephenson also average double figures at 10.9 and 10.3 points, respectively. Williams averages 8.9 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.1 per game) and blocks (18 total).

Catawba was picked to win the South Atlantic Conference by a wide margin in the preseason coaches’ poll, following their dominance of the conference tournament the last two seasons. Picked to finish eighth in that nine team conference is Brevard College, a team that defeated UNC Asheville 73-69 at the Justice Center in an exhibition game this season. The Indians lost their conference opener at Lenoir-Rhyne on December 2^nd, but bounced back on the 5^th with a decisive 78-55 win over Chowan at the TWC Arena in Charlotte. Catawba’s backcourt was expected to excel and has not disappointed. Seniors Rob Fields and Antonio Houston were both first team all-conference selections in the preseason. Fields leads the team in scoring with 17.4 PPG on .518 shooting, and is also the leader in assists. Houston averages 15.9 points, 5.1 boards, and leads the Indians in steals. A third senior, forward Donald Rutherford is making the case that he belongs on the all-conference squad as well. Rutherford averages 15.4 PPG and team highs in field goal percentage (.560), rebounds (6.9), and blocks.

The Bulldogs defeated Catawba 84-67 last season at the Justice Center, a game in which both Primm and Stubbs reached double figures (in addition to then-seniors Reid Augst and Jason Ridenhour). Catawba will be far from an easy out on Tuesday, and will likely be emboldened by Brevard’s exhibition upset and Asheville’s less-than-stellar non-conference record. However, the Bulldogs looked like a team that is putting it all together on Sunday, and if they turn in a similar performance tomorrow night, they will have a good chance to make it three in a row.

Go Dogs!!!

Men's Basketball Tops Gardner-Webb 58-56

The Bulldogs may have opened the season with a six game slump against a grueling non-conference schedule, but UNC Asheville remained undefeated in Big South play on Friday night, capturing a thrilling 58-56 victory at Gardner-Webb. Chris Stephenson tipped in the winning bucket with 1.6 seconds on the clock to give the Bulldogs (1-6, 1-0) their first win of the season. It was the third consecutive loss for Gardner-Webb (3-3, 0-1).

Sean Smith led the Bulldogs in scoring for the second straight outing. The senior guard put up 18 points and had another solid night from beyond the arc, hitting 4-of-9 from three-point range. Stephenson was a big contributor down the stretch for Asheville, scoring all of his 13 points in the second half. John Williams filled out the box score with nine points, six rebounds, three blocks, and four steals.

The Bulldogs were able to slow down Gardner-Webb’s top two scoring threats, holding Grayson Flittner to eight points, and allowing Auryn MacMillan a season-low four. Anton Silver led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 14 points, and C.J. Hailey added 11. After a long see-saw battle, Asheville took a 55-50 lead with 1:10 to play, but two turnovers and a missed free throw enabled Gardner-Webb to tie things up on a jumper from Hailey with 10 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Matt Dickey’s shot was off target, but Stephenson was there with the tip-in to silence the crowd at Porter Arena.

Many of the Bulldogs’ early season issues were evident in Friday’s game. Asheville shot only 38 percent from the field, turned the ball over 19 times, and was outrebounded 45-30. Although free throw shooting was improved, the Bulldogs still shot below 70 percent as a team. UNC Asheville tightened up on defense, however, collecting 11 steals and forcing 23 total Gardner-Webb turnovers. The Bulldogs were also able to limit Gardner-Webb to a woeful 23 percent from the field in the second half. In the end, when the Bulldogs needed a clutch basket for the win in regulation, they were able to get it.

The Bulldogs have the week off for exams and are back in action on Sunday, when they host Montreat (2-9, 1-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) to begin a four game home stand.

Men's Basketball Opens Conference Play Against Gardner-Webb

UNC Asheville has struggled out of the gate this season, but both teams will enter the game undefeated in conference play when the Bulldogs travel to Boiling Springs to take on Gardner-Webb on Friday night. Asheville (0-6) is off to its worst start since the 1999-2000 campaign while Gardner-Webb (3-2) boasts a winning record, but the Bulldogs have faced a much more consistently challenging slate.

UNC Asheville’s losing streak is the result of matchups against such elite opposition as 5^th-ranked Kentucky (7-0), 11^th-ranked Tennessee (6-1), Georgia (4-2), and Charlotte (5-1), in addition to Atlantic Sun leader Campbell (4-1) and Southern Conference leader Furman (4-1). Gardner-Webb has faced a much softer early season schedule, collecting three wins over Covenant, Montreat, and Methodist. Gardner-Webb’s first loss came on November 23 at the hands of 10^th-ranked North Carolina. The Runnin’ Bulldogs put together a strong showing in the loss, and were paced by 32 points from Grayson Flittner, including a Dean E. Smith Center record nine three-pointers. Gardner-Webb dropped its second straight on Saturday, when it was pounded at home by a very good Western Carolina team.

Most of Gardner-Webb’s production comes from its strong senior class. Flittner leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. Australian-born center Auryn MacMillan is averaging 10.4 points and 9.0 rebounds. Guard C.J. Hailey contributes 9.0 points per game. UNC Asheville has spread the scoring around thus far. In six games the Bulldogs have had five different high scorers, with J.P. Primm the only player to lead the team twice. UNC Asheville may have an emerging leader in Primm, who averages a team-high 12.2 points per game, but needs more consistent production from its veterans. Sharpshooter Sean Smith found his scoring touch on Monday against Kentucky, knocking down six three-pointers en route to a 19 point performance. John Williams leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots, and will look to increase his output on the offensive end.

The stakes will be high on Friday as both teams look to shake off losing streaks and claim a winning record in Big South conference play. UNC Asheville is 12-1 in conference openers in the Eddie Biedenbach era, and has won its last four. The Bulldogs won both games last year against a Gardner-Webb team that played without Flittner, who missed the season with a knee injury. Matt Dickey performed well in both games for Asheville, averaging 17.5 points.

Men's Basketball Preview: Tennessee

The Bulldogs are in for a huge challenge tonight as they travel to Knoxville to take on 10th-ranked Tennessee in a non-conference matchup. UNC Asheville (0-1) fought hard on Friday night but fell, 86-70, in its season-opener at Charlotte. Meanwhile, Tennessee (1-0) easily dismantled Austin Peay, 83-54.

UNC Asheville bounced back from a shocking exhibition loss at the hands of Brevard to put together a quality effort against a talented Charlotte squad on Friday, but was unable to come away with the win. Playing without top returning scorer John Williams, the Bulldogs were led by sophomore Chris Stephenson, who came off the bench to record a career-high 22 points and 6 rebounds. Stephenson also led the Bulldogs in blocks (3) and assists (2). Junior guard J.P. Primm also had a solid outing, adding 15 points for the Bulldogs. Sean Smith, who scorched the nets for a game-high 22 points in the loss to Brevard, shot only 1-of-7 from three-point range and had 7 total points.

The Bulldogs trailed the 49ers 40-27 at the half, but made an impressive second half run, closing the gap to 48-47 with 11 minutes remaining. Asheville was unable to take the lead, however, and Charlotte pulled away over the final 7 minutes. Rebounding was a major area of concern for the Bulldogs. Charlotte dominated the glass in the first half, outrebounding Asheville 32-15. The Bulldogs cut down on this advantage in the second half, but the damage was already done.
Four Volunteers scored in double figures in Tennessee’s season opening victory on Friday night. Sophomore Scotty Hopson, an SEC all-freshman selection last season, was the high scorer with 16. The Volunteers are led by a pair of seniors, Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism, and both made their presence felt against Austin Peay. Smith, a first-team all-SEC player one year ago, filled out the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Chism, a second-team selection, had a double-double as well with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

UNC Asheville travelled to Tennessee last season and lost, 87-69. Smith led the Vols with a triple-double in only 24 minutes of play. Three Bulldogs scored in double digits in that contest, and Asheville will likely be without all of them tonight. Reid Augst and Jason Ridenhour graduated this offseason, and John Williams, who missed the Charlotte game due to illness, is officially listed as questionable.

Slam Dunk Contest Highlights

Check out these highlights from the slam dunk contest at the 2009 Jammin' at the Justice event!

http://tiny.cc/uncadunk

Men's Basketball Picked 2nd in Big South

At the Big South Conference Media Day yesterday, voters confirmed just how dangerous UNC Asheville could be this season, picking the Bulldogs to finish second in the conference behind defending regular season and tournament champion Radford. Asheville turned in a 10-8 conference record (15-16 overall) last season to finish fourth in the Big South, and fell to Radford, 94-86, in the conference semifinals.

The Bulldogs lose forwards Reid Augst and Jason Ridenhour, the only two players to start every game last season, to graduation. Augst led the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game and was second in rebounding. Although these departures leave a void in the Asheville frontcourt, the Bulldogs have reloaded and are prepared to fill it. Three returning starters and eight returning lettermen ensure that this will not be a rebuilding season. Junior forward John Williams is the Bulldogs leading returning scorer (12.9 PPG) and leading rebounder (6.6 RPG) from last year. Asheville also has one of the best guard tandems in the conference with sophomore Matt Dickey (named to the Big South All-Rookie team last season) and lone senior Sean Smith (the Bulldogs’ best three-point shooter, posting an incredible .457 mark). Both players averaged in double figures last season. Asheville will have outstanding depth at guard, including sophomore J.P. Primm, who started a number of contests and played big minutes last year.

In the frontcourt, there are several potential candidates to help fill the shoes of Augst and Ridenhour. Junior Eric Stubbs led the Bulldogs in field-goal percentage one year ago at .515. Asheville also has a pair of underclassman centers with tremendous size. Sophomore Sean Hobbs (7’2”, 260) and freshman D.J. Cunningham (6’10”, 240) should provide depth and a strong interior presence.

The Bulldogs will be tested early and often this season, as they embark on a grueling non-conference slate to begin the year. The schedule includes away matches with national powerhouses Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Charlotte. There will be 14 home games played at the Justice Center this year, as well as an exhibition match against Brevard on November 9th. Asheville tips off the official practice season this Friday night with the annual Jammin’ at the Justice event. The festivities will include scrimmages with both the men’s and women’s players, a slam dunk contest, and a three point contest. Jammin’ at the Justice begins at 6pm.