ASHEVILLE, N.C. --- Andrew Rowsey led all players with 20 points as the UNC Asheville men's basketball team defeated visiting Tusculum College 78-40 at Kimmel Arena on the UNCA campus. The contest is an exhibition game for Tusculum, but counts as a win as do game statistics for the Bulldogs, who improve to 4-4 on the season.

Asheville opened the second half with a 23-3 run en route to the Bulldogs' 28th straight regular-season victory over a non-NCAA Division I opponent.

Rowsey, the nation's top scorer, was held six points under his seasonal average as he knocked down four 3-pointers to go along with his five rebounds and five assists. Sam Hughes finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting off the bench as 12 different Bulldogs found their way into the scoring column.

The Tusculum duo of Cory Fagan and Javon Price accounted for eight points each, while Chase Mounce and tallied six points and five rebounds.

UNC Asheville shot 46 percent from the floor, including 16-of-33 (48.5%) in the second period. TC was limited to 27 percent shooting, while committing 25 turnovers, resulting into 25 points for the Bulldogs. UNCA also won the rebound battle by a 45-35 margin, including 29-12 in the second half.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-2 lead following a Corey Littlejohn three-pointer. Tusculum answered with a 7-1 spurt which was sparked by a Fagan trifecta, a Gunnar Beamer layup and two made free throws from Matt Shown to tie the contest at 9-9 with 13:54 left before halftime.

Asheville tallied six straight points, including back-to-back layups from Sam Hughes to lead 15-9. Mounce would make a pair of free throw tries to trim the deficit to 17-13 with 12:04 left in the half.

The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to take its first double-figure lead of the contest at 26-13 and would not allow their advantage to slip into single digits for the remainder of the night as UNCA carried a 39-23 lead into the locker room.

Beamer was TC's top assist distributor with four helpers, while senior Mason Fox accounted for two assists and a team-high three steals.

The Pioneers (1-7) return to action this Monday night when they host Catawba College for a South Atlantic Conference clash beginning at 8 p.m., following the women's game between the two schools.

- TC -