Pember and UNC Asheville secure 83-72 OT win over Gardner-Webb in Big South Conference semifinal

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — Drew Pember scored 30 points, six in the overtime, as UNC Asheville beat Gardner-Webb 83-72 on Saturday night in a Big South Conference Tournament semifinal.

Pember wound up with a triple-double for the Bulldogs (22-11) after also adding 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Toyaz Solomon scored 17 points and added five rebounds and three blocks. Josh Banks shot 5 for 8 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points.

Shahar Lazar led the Runnin' Bulldogs (17-16) in scoring, finishing with 18 points. Quest Aldridge added nine points, six rebounds and five assists for Gardner-Webb. Isaiah Richards also had nine points and two blocks.

UNC Asheville entered halftime down 34-31. Pember scored 16 second-half points as UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb ended regulation tied at 71. Pember scored his six overtime points while going 1 of 2 and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Gardner-Webb went the last 8:45 of playing time without a field goal.

The Bulldogs advance to the championship game on Sunday against Longwood, which also won a semifinal in overtime, defeating top seed High Point 80-79.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.