In its first road game of the season, UNC Asheville fell 100-49 to NC State before a crowd of 13,620 at PNC Arena.
NC State (3-0) led from start-to-finish in the game, but UNC Asheville (1-1) particularly gave the Wolfpack all they could handle in the first half.
Down 30-10 with 4:36 left in the first half, UNC Asheville went on a 9-2 run over the next couple of minutes to pull within 13 at 32-19 with 2:34 to play in the opening half. That would prove to be as close as the Bulldogs could get with NC State owning a 44-22 lead at the halftime break.
Tajion Jones led all in the game with 21 points for the Bulldogs. Jones was 7-of-15 in the game. He also had one block, one steal and one rebound.
Jones was the only Bulldog in double figures, but DeVon Baker led UNC Asheville in assists with four. Coty Jude finished with two blocks to lead UNC Asheville in the category.
Five NC State players finished in double figures with Devon Daniels leading the way with 20 points.
UNC Asheville ended its night shooting 33.3 percent (17-of-51) as a team, while NC State ended the game shooting 53.6 percent (37-of-69). UNC Asheville shot 39.1 percent (9-of-23) in the second half.
BULLDOG BITES
Bulldog Block Party
UNC Asheville finished the loss to NC State with six blocks as a team. The Bulldogs swatted five shots alone in the first half.
Strong Start Offensively
Tajion Jones has scored in double figures and scored a combined 35 points in his first two regular season games in a Bulldog uniform. Jones with his 21 against NC State and Devon Baker with his 27 in the win over St. Andrews have both scored over 20 this year for the Bulldogs.
Up Next
UNC Asheville men’s basketball will next participate in the KEMI Northern Kentucky Basketball Classic Nov. 16-18 at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. In addition to the Bulldogs, host Northern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina and Manhattan will compete in the event.
The matchup against Coastal Carolina in the tournament will mark the first time the two former league rivals have met since the Bulldogs claimed a thrilling 79-77 overtime win over the Chanticleers at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. UNC Asheville will be taking the court against Northern Kentucky and Manhattan in the multi-team event for the first time on the hardwood.
Box Score: https://uncabulldogs.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=5058
