UNC Asheville defeats Morris 89-56

UNC Asheville Dominates Morris in Statement Win

In a clinical performance, No. 24-ranked UNC Asheville blew out visiting Morris 89-56 at Kimmel Arena on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs' statement win was built on their dominant performance from the opening tip, with the home team leading 41-23 at halftime. Despite Morris trailing by as many as 33 points in the third quarter, they managed to cut the deficit down to 26 points before the game's final buzzer sounded.

UNC Asheville's balanced attack was the story of the night, as Justin Wright led the way with 21 points on 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range. Sage Tolentino added 13 rebounds and 9 points, while also dishing out 5 assists to complement his defensive efforts.

Morris struggled to find its footing, with Khail Baker leading the way for the visitors with 22 points on 66.7% shooting. Jerry Couzens chipped in with 15 points and 5 rebounds, but the Bulldogs' defense stifled Morris's offense, limiting them to just 34.0% shooting from the field.

The game was a classic example of a blowout, with UNC Asheville's superior depth and athleticism proving too much for Morris to handle. The Bulldogs' bench outscored the visitors' bench 25-10, further emphasizing their dominance.

Advanced statistics told a similar story, with UNC Asheville boasting an eFG% of 56.9%, compared to Morris's 36.3%. The Bulldogs also held a significant edge in rebounds and turnovers, outrebounding Morris 54-30 and committing just 14 turnovers to the visitors' 13.

For UNC Asheville, this win was a statement of intent heading into conference play. With their balanced attack and stifling defense, they proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the country.