ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — UNC Asheville used a dominant first-half offensive display to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to a 69-50 victory over Gardner-Webb in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Kimmel Arena.

A crowd of 1,016 watched the home Bulldogs improve to 10-12 overall, while the visiting Runnin’ Bulldogs fell to 3-20.

The most important part of the game was UNC Asheville’s explosive start, which effectively decided the contest before halftime. The home team raced out to a 41-27 lead at the break, shooting efficiently and capitalizing on Gardner-Webb’s early mistakes. The opening period featured a decisive 17-4 run by UNC Asheville, fueled by three-pointers from Justin Wright and Kameron Taylor, which turned a narrow 10-7 edge into a 27-11 command with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half. Gardner-Webb never recovered from that early barrage.

UNC Asheville’s offensive execution was led by a balanced scoring effort. DJ Patrick, a 6-foot-6 guard from Powder Springs, Georgia, led all scorers with 16 points in 37 minutes of action. Justin Wright, a guard from Greenville, North Carolina, matched Patrick’s 16 points and added a game-high six assists. Kameron Taylor of Charlotte contributed 12 points, and Daniel Thomas of Dallas chipped in 10 points.

Gardner-Webb, which has lost 10 of its last 11 games, struggled to find consistent offense. Spence Sims, a guard from Fairhope, Alabama, led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 13 points. Colin Hawkins of Colorado Springs scored eight points.

The second half saw UNC Asheville maintain its comfortable margin, never allowing Gardner-Webb to cut the deficit below 14 points. The home Bulldogs extended their lead to as many as 21 points in the final minutes. Gardner-Webb managed only 23 points after halftime, unable to mount any significant challenge.

Defensively, UNC Asheville was disruptive, recording eight steals and five blocks. Toyaz Solomon of Enfield, North Carolina, was a force inside with nine points, five assists and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The game’s outcome aligned with pregame projections, as UNC Asheville was a 17-point favorite according to sportsbooks. The total score of 119 points fell well under the over/under line of 149.5.

UNC Asheville next travels to face Winthrop on Saturday. Gardner-Webb returns home to host Longwood on Feb. 4. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, on Feb. 26.