Tennessee basketball transfer Drew Pember setting records at UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville fans have seen a lot of exciting basketball this season.
The Bulldogs (17-6, 9-1 Big South) are riding an eight-game winning streak entering their game Thursday (7 p.m., ESPNU) against High Point at Kimmel Arena. Asheville is unbeaten this season at Kimmel with a 9-0 mark and is in first place in the Big South.
Fans have enjoyed the close games and close victories; they also saw history last week at Kimmel.
Senior center Drew Pember tallied a school-record 48 points to lead the Bulldogs to an 88-80 overtime win over Presbyterian. It broke a record that was set by Kentucky transfer Mickey Gibson more than 50 years ago, when he scored 44 points in a game during the 1969-70 season.
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How impressive was the performance on a national stage? It’s the highest-scoring game of any men's player in Division I. The former Bearden High School star and Tennessee transfer also grabbed 12 rebounds. Pember also tied a school-record for most 3-pointers in a game with eight as he was a sizzling 8-for-10. No college basketball player has achieved those numbers in a game in 25 years.
“Obviously Drew Pember had a heckuva game with his 48 points against Presbyterian,” said Bulldogs coach Mike Morrell. “Our guys did a great job getting him the basketball in places where he’s comfortable shooting the ball.”
The Bulldogs needed every one of those points. The Blue Hose gave Asheville fits for 45 minutes as the home team had to rally to send the game into overtime. Pember’s last 3-pointer gave the Dogs an 81-75 lead in overtime. He then went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to ice the win and set the record.
Pember knocked down his first six 3-point attempts and hit seven in the first 20 minutes. He finished with 27 points in the first half.
“I don’t achieve anything without my teammates,” Pember said. “My teammates gave me great passes, set great screens and were able to get me the ball where I had a chance to score.”
“We were fortunate to win the game against Presbyterian and we don’t have a chance without the great scoring game that Drew had,” added Morrell.
Pember was the Big South Preseason Player of the Year and has more than lived up to the billing. Pember leads Division I in free throws made (164) and attempted (194). He also ranks seventh in blocks (57), 10th in points scored (464), 14th in rebounds (220). Drew’s scoring (20.2) and rebounding averages (9.6) lead the Big South.
“I’m really proud of the season that Drew is having,” Morrell said. “He’s obviously front and center of every opponent we play. His scoring averages are impressive but he also doing the job on the boards for us and blocking a lot of shots to help our defense.”
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Tennessee basketball transfer Drew Pember sets UNC Asheville records
