Sunday was a great win for the UNC Asheville men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs played very well in beating the defending Big South champions Radford, 92-84. Ironically, the same score that the Highlanders beat the Bulldogs in last year’s Big South Conference semifinal tournament game.
It was a total team effort in the victory as once again Asheville had five players in double figures. Matt Dickey scored 26 points, despite only taking eight shots in the game. He was 10-of-12 from the free throw line. How about the play of freshman Jaron Lane with a career-best 17 points and eight rebounds? He really gave the Bulldogs a lift off the bench. John Williams is blocking every shot in sight it seems. His next one will make him the school’s all-time leader in that category.
Another big weekend is ahead for Coach Biedenbach’s club. Asheville plays at Charleston Southern Thursday night and Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon. Two teams that beat the Bulldogs at home in early January. Each game becomes bigger as we head toward March.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Two Big Games for Men's Basketball This Week
The UNC Asheville men’s basketball team has battled back and picked up five straight wins over a 10-day period and is over .500 in league play (5-4).
The more the Bulldogs wins and the bigger the next game becomes. Asheville ends its five-game homestand with two crucial league games this week. The Dogs host High Point Thursday night and then take on Radford Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
Both games are huge. After Saturday, Asheville has only three league games at home remaining. The Bulldogs are in position to make a move in the league standings but must hold serve at home. Asheville and High Point always play close games that can go either way. Last year, both games against the Panthers went the Bulldogs’ way. Earlier this month, the game went High Point’s way. On Saturday against Radford, the Bulldogs hope to break a five-game losing streak to the Highlanders. All five losses have been close but they’ve been losses nevertheless.
The Bulldogs have improved in all areas over the past few weeks but the offense has really taken off. After only having one player average in double figures in scoring (J.P. Primm) for most of the season, Asheville has five players averaging in double figures going into the High Point game. The Dogs don’t have anybody who will lead the league in scoring but they have plenty of guys that can hurt you.
We need two great crowds this week to support our Bulldogs and try and get us two wins.
The more the Bulldogs wins and the bigger the next game becomes. Asheville ends its five-game homestand with two crucial league games this week. The Dogs host High Point Thursday night and then take on Radford Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
Both games are huge. After Saturday, Asheville has only three league games at home remaining. The Bulldogs are in position to make a move in the league standings but must hold serve at home. Asheville and High Point always play close games that can go either way. Last year, both games against the Panthers went the Bulldogs’ way. Earlier this month, the game went High Point’s way. On Saturday against Radford, the Bulldogs hope to break a five-game losing streak to the Highlanders. All five losses have been close but they’ve been losses nevertheless.
The Bulldogs have improved in all areas over the past few weeks but the offense has really taken off. After only having one player average in double figures in scoring (J.P. Primm) for most of the season, Asheville has five players averaging in double figures going into the High Point game. The Dogs don’t have anybody who will lead the league in scoring but they have plenty of guys that can hurt you.
We need two great crowds this week to support our Bulldogs and try and get us two wins.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Men's Basketball Just Needs A Little Luck
The UNC Asheville men’s basketball team had a lot of luck last week but not too much of it was good luck. The Bulldogs lost four Big South Conference games in seven days that they easily could have won. In three of the games, Asheville was either tied or in the lead in the last two minutes but just couldn’t get the right bounce. Last Monday at High Point, a long three-pointer off a busted play helped give the Panthers the victory. Thursday against Coastal Carolina, a team that has now won 12 games in a row, a shot that came oh so close to bouncing out instead bounced in with 5.5 seconds left to give the Chanticleers the victory. Last Saturday against Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs were one defensive stop away from winning.
What’s impressive about this Asheville team is that it keeps battling and playing. With the tough schedule the Bulldogs had early and the expectations it had, it would be easy for them to hang their heads or simply throw in the towel for this season. But this Asheville team has not come close to doing that and as we all know it’s a long season and a lot of interesting things can happen in March. The Bulldogs are on the road for two games this week at VMI and Liberty and then come home for five straight home games. It’s one of the longest homestands in recent memory. If Asheville can keep improving and maybe find a lucky bounce along the way the Bulldogs have a chance to make some noise come March.
What’s impressive about this Asheville team is that it keeps battling and playing. With the tough schedule the Bulldogs had early and the expectations it had, it would be easy for them to hang their heads or simply throw in the towel for this season. But this Asheville team has not come close to doing that and as we all know it’s a long season and a lot of interesting things can happen in March. The Bulldogs are on the road for two games this week at VMI and Liberty and then come home for five straight home games. It’s one of the longest homestands in recent memory. If Asheville can keep improving and maybe find a lucky bounce along the way the Bulldogs have a chance to make some noise come March.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Georgia Southern to Visit Justice Center for First Time
The Bulldogs will be back in action Wednesday night when they host Georgia Southern at the Justice Center. UNC Asheville (3-5) snapped a four-game losing streak on Friday with a convincing 94-63 victory over Southern Wesleyan. The Eagles (4-4, 2-0 Southern Conference) are off to a strong start and look to stymie the Bulldogs with their defense when the teams meet in Asheville for the first time.
The dismantling of Southern Wesleyan on Saturday was driven by a career day from Lindsey Montgomery, who finished with 29 points and 20 rebounds – both career highs. It was the first 20/20 performance by a Bulldog since the 1983-84 campaign. Linda Aughburns, Montgomery’s complement in the post, finished up with 17 points and 6 assists. Lindsey Thompson also cracked double figures with 13 points. The Bulldogs shot 55 percent from the field, including 67 percent in the second half, and out-rebounded the Warriors 47-23 to claim the easy win, despite turning the ball over 24 times.
Despite starting in only one game this season, Montgomery now leads the Bulldogs in scoring (12.1), field-goal percentage (.475), and rebounds (9.1). Thompson averages 10.0 points, and Aughburns is just shy of a double-double for the season with 9.1 points and 7.1 rebounds. Asheville’s 21.4 turnovers per game remain a concern, but the Bulldogs’ rebounding and defensive tenacity have kept them competitive.
Georgia Southern leads the Southern Conference in scoring defense, allowing only 57.2 points per game. The Eagles were picked to finish in the middle of the SoCon pack after an 11-9 finish last season, but have looked like contenders thus far. After a tough beginning to the season that included Duke and Auburn, Georgia Southern cruised to victories over conference foes Elon and Appalachian State. Guard Carolyn Whitney leads the Eagles in scoring with 11.3 PPG, and forward J’Lisia Ogburn is averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 5.9 boards. Jessica Geiger is a quality all-around producer, with 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.
Georgia Southern has defeated UNC Asheville in each of the previous two meetings between the schools, but they have never faced off at the Justice Center. Last season the Eagles came away with a 52-39 victory over the Bulldogs in Statesboro behind a 12 point performance from Geiger. Chioma Okoli led Asheville with 12 points and 7 rebounds in the game. The Bulldogs have a chance to take down Georgia Southern, but will need to protect the ball and find Montgomery and Aughburns in the post for high-percentage shots.
Go Bulldogs!
Monday, December 14, 2009
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 2nd, but bounced back on the 5th 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!!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Women's Hoops to Host Southern Wesleyan
UNC Asheville returns home to the Justice Center on Friday night to take on Southern Wesleyan. The Bulldogs (2-5) have lost four straight, including a brutal three-game road trip that concluded with a 59-37 loss at Charlotte on Saturday. Southern Wesleyan (6-2, 1-2 SSAC) boasts a high-scoring offense that could present a real challenge for Asheville.
The Bulldogs have put forth a good defensive effort but have yet to find an explosive scoring threat this season. No Asheville player currently averages double-figure points per game, but four are close. Lindsey Thompson leads the team in scoring at 9.6 PPG, and Lindsey Montgomery (9.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and Linda Aughburns (8.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG) have been consistent producers at both ends of the floor. Chioma Okoli (8.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG) has been solid but has not yet taken over a game offensively.
The Bulldogs struggled on Saturday with turnovers and poor field goal shooting. After protecting the ball much better against Western Carolina, Asheville committed 30 turnovers against Charlotte, the Bulldogs’ second game with at least 30 giveaways this season. Asheville shot over 40 percent in the first half, but 19 percent from the field (including 11 percent from three-point range) in the second half sealed the Bulldogs’ fate.
Southern Wesleyan has had no shortage of offense early this season. The Warriors average 84 points per game, and have four players averaging double-figures. Sophomore Kayla Plantin leads the team in points (16.0), rebounds (7.3), and field goal percentage (an astronomical .658). Senior point guard Kesha Smith averages 14.9 points on .579 shooting, along with team-highs 4.6 assists and 3.3 steals. Smith has turned in four points-assists double-doubles this season. Kendra Brooks averages 12.6 PPG for the Warriors, and Janaye Gillard rounds out the group with 12.4 (on .538 shooting).
Southern Wesleyan was picked to finish seventh in the Southern States Athletic Conference this season, but has reeled off some impressive wins in the early going, including a 72-44 clobbering of Montreat. On Saturday, the Warriors came up just short at Lee University, losing 95-85 to the 6th-ranked NAIA squad in the nation. Gillard (23 points) and Smith (22 points, 10 assists) had big nights as Southern Wesleyan asserted its status as a contender in the SSAC.
UNC Asheville’s offensive woes on Saturday can be attributed to the stifling defense of Charlotte, which enjoyed a substantial size advantage over the Bulldogs. The much more porous defense of Southern Wesleyan will give the Bulldogs an opportunity to get the offense on track as they begin to gear up for conference play. The game tips off at 7 p.m.
Monday, December 7, 2009
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.
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