Josh Banks and UNC-Asheville will take the court against Mark Sears and No. 2 ranked Alabama on Monday night.
UNC-Asheville will head on the road on the opening night of men’s college basketball, taking on the No. 2 ranked team in the country on the preseason AP Poll, Alabama, at the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Monday night. The Crimson Tide had a fantastic season last year that ended in heartbreak. They made it all the way to the final four, knocking off North Carolina on the way, getting beat by the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Tournament, UConn. Mark Sears had 24 points, leading the team in that game. The senior guard is back for another ride with Nate Oats after averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game last year. They also welcomed back Grant Nelson, who averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. They lost Aaron Estrada to the NBA and Rylan Griffen to No. 1 ranked Kansas. They brought in two big transfers this season in Cliff Omoruyi and Chris Youngblood.
Youngblood shot 39.4% from three and led South Florida in scoring last season. Omoruyi will bring much-needed rebounding and shot-blocking after averaging 2.9 blocks per game last season. UNC-Asheville will return one of its premier scorers from last season, Josh Banks. The 6-foot-5 senior averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
He will be joined in returning with Feltcher Abee after the departure of Nick McMullen to Georgia State. Able averaged 10.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. You will not want to miss the season-opening games for UNC-Asheville and the No. ranked team in the country, Alabama, tonight.
Regional restrictions may apply.
