Asheville downs VMI for 2nd straight Big South title

Asheville, NC – Jeremy Atkinson scored 18 points and J.P. Asheville to its second 64 victory over Virginia Military Institute.

Matt Dickey contributed 15 points, six assists and five steals, while Chris Stephenson scored 13 and Quinard Jackson chipped in 11 for the Bulldogs (24-9), who became the first repeat Big South Tournament champion since Winthrop won four straight from 2005-08.

UNC-Asheville will make its third NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs won an opening-round game against Texas Southern in 2003 before losing to Texas, then beat Arkansas-Little Rock in the first round last year before losing to Pittsburgh.

Keith Gabriel scored 12 points and Jordan Weethee added 11 for VMI (17-16), which has never won the title since joining the Big South in 2003-04. The Keydets also lost in the championship game in 2007 and 2009, and last earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 1977 as members of the Southern Conference.