UNC Asheville tops Presbyterian 76-56 behind Thomas

CLINTON, S.C. -- Ahmad Thomas scored 21 points, Macio Teaque added 16, and UNC Asheville used a hot first half to beat Presbyterian 76-56 on Friday night.

Raekwon Miller scored 13 points with four assists for the Bulldogs (10-8, 3-2 Big South Conference), who shot 63.3 percent from the floor in the first half and finished shooting 55.4 percent.

Presbyterian whittled a 23-point halftime deficit to 16 points after Ethan Kay hit back-to-back 3s amid a 10-2 run, then closed to 67-52 on Reggie Dillard's 3 with 4:37 left, but got no closer.

Presbyterian led 4-2 on Dillard's jumper, but Thomas scored UNC Asheville's first eight points and the Bulldogs never trailed after that. Teague's jumper capped a 14-0 run and the Bulldogs led 45-23 at halftime after holding the Blue Hose scoreless for the final 5:09.

JC Younger scored 13 points for Presbyterian (8-10, 1-4), which has lost three straight.