UNC Asheville rallies, tops Gardner-Webb 66-60

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) Jaron Lane scored 15 points and UNC Asheville rallied for a 66-60 victory over Gardner-Webb Thursday night in the teams' Big South opener.

The Bulldogs (4-4) trailed 26-21 at halftime, 6-foot-11 Mike Byron scoring 12 of his 16 points as Gardner-Webb (3-6) started quickly. The Runnin' Bulldogs used Byron and a swarming man-to-man defense to take a 14-1 lead. They held UNC Asheville without a field goal until Lane's jumper with 11:50 left in the half.

The Bulldogs briefly took a lead early in the second half, but Gardner-Webb regained it until 6:51 remained. Matt Dickey, J.P. Primm and Lane brought UNC Asheville back.

Dickey scored 8 of his 13 points after the break, Primm 9 of his 12. They combined to hit 11 free throws. The Bulldogs shot 52.4 per cent (11 for 21) after halftime and made a decisive 19-7 run to lead 59-50 with 1:01 to play.

Updated December 1, 2011