Smith leads UNC Asheville over Charleston Southern 83-73

Jan 9, 2016, 07:40 pm

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dylan Smith scored 23 points, Dwayne Sutton added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and UNC Asheville shot 63 percent from the field in the second half to pull away for an 83-73 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday.

Sutton made 8 of 10 free throws for UNC Asheville (12-5, 5-0 Big South), which hit 17 of 19 as a team. Smith scored 18 of his 23 in the second half.

Raemond Robinson and Demetrius Pollard hit back-to-back 3s to pull Charleston Southern (5-11, 1-4) within one at 55-54 with 14:28 left. But the Buccaneers missed their next five shots, and Smith and Raekwon Miller combined to hit five 3s in four minutes to put UNC Asheville on top by double digits.

Armel Potter led the Bucs with 17 points on 8-of-19 shooting.

Charleston Southern led by as many as 12 before the break, but UNC Asheville made all 11 free throws to pull within one at halftime.