Presbyterian edges UNC Asheville in tight contest

Jaylen Peterson's late free throws seal the victory for the Blue Hose

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a close matchup, Presbyterian defeated UNC Asheville 58-57 on Saturday. Jaylen Peterson led the way for the Blue Hose, scoring 20 points, including the game-winning free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This was an important Big South Conference matchup between two teams looking to improve their standing in the league standings. The close finish highlights the competitive nature of the conference and the importance of late-game execution.

The details

Peterson's 20 points paced Presbyterian, who held on for the narrow one-point victory over UNC Asheville. The game came down to the final seconds, with Peterson stepping up to the free throw line and sinking the decisive shots to give his team the win.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Peterson

The leading scorer for Presbyterian, Peterson scored 20 points and hit the game-winning free throws in the final seconds.

Presbyterian

The Presbyterian Blue Hose are a Division I basketball program that competes in the Big South Conference.

UNC Asheville

The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are a Division I basketball program that also competes in the Big South Conference.

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What’s next

The win moves Presbyterian to 12-12 on the season and 7-6 in Big South play. They will look to build on this victory as they continue their conference schedule. UNC Asheville drops to 10-14 overall and 6-7 in the Big South.

The takeaway

This was a hard-fought conference matchup that came down to the final seconds. Peterson's clutch performance at the free throw line proved to be the difference, showcasing the importance of late-game execution in close games.