Western Carolina Beats UNC Asheville 83-75 at Kimmel Arena

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Western Carolina left Kimmel Arena with an 83-75 men’s basketball win Saturday after UNC Asheville had erased an early 13-point deficit and even briefly gone in front.

The Catamounts improved to 1-1 behind 19 points from Jaxon Prunty, who was most effective at the stripe, making 10 of 11 free throws after a 3-for-12 night from the floor that included three makes from long range. Jaeden Roberts had 17 and Malachi Brown 16.

For the Bulldogs, now 1-2, Connor Dubsky scored 16 and came up with three steals, a personal best, while making five shots from distance. Ja’Corey Lipkins also hit five threes and finished with 15 points plus eight boards. Jermaurhiyun Anderson scored 13, his high as a Bulldog, going 6 for 12 from the field and setting up teammates three times. Myles Mayfield chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds, five of his points coming from the line.

Asheville was the better rebounding side by a 37-33 count, and its reserves outscored Western Carolina’s 29 to 8. The home team made 25 field goals on 58 tries and 11 of 29 threes.

The visitors jumped ahead 14-1 with 15:36 still to play in the first half. A 10-0 Asheville answer, begun with a Dubsky three, made it 14-11. The sides later stood even at 26 after an Anderson layup with just over five minutes left before the break, then at 29 after Lipkins scored from deep. Mayfield’s pair of free throws with 3:53 showing produced the first Asheville lead, 31-29, before Roberts drained a three in the final three seconds to send Western Carolina into the break up 44-40. Dubsky already had 13 points by then on 4-of-8 shooting from long range.

Lipkins opened the second half with three quick triples. One tied the game at 46. Mayfield then dunked for a 48-46 edge with 18:13 left, and Lipkins added another three at 17:33 for a 51-48 cushion, the night’s largest for the Bulldogs. Western Carolina took over after that and closed out the rivalry meeting.

Filed under: Raleigh NC Sports News