UNC Asheville Men's Basketball Heads to Big South Tournament

Bulldogs earn #4 seed, face Longwood in quarterfinals with NCAA Tournament berth on the line

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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UNC Asheville's men's basketball team has earned the #4 seed in the upcoming Big South Basketball Conference Tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Bulldogs will face Longwood University in the quarterfinals on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals on Saturday. The tournament champion will secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Division One Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness.

Why it matters

The Big South Conference is a tough league, and earning a top-4 seed is an impressive accomplishment for the Bulldogs. With a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line, this weekend's conference tournament is the biggest stage of the season for UNC Asheville as they look to cap off a successful campaign.

The details

UNC Asheville finished the regular season with a strong record, earning the #4 seed in the Big South Tournament. In the quarterfinals, they will take on Longwood University, with the winner advancing to face either #1 seed High Point or #9 seed Gardner-Webb in the semifinals on Saturday. The tournament champion will punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, college basketball's premier postseason event.

  • The Big South Basketball Conference Tournament kicks off on Friday, March 6.
  • The championship game will be played on Sunday, March 8.
  • UNC Asheville's quarterfinal matchup against Longwood is scheduled for Friday, March 6.

The players

UNC Asheville Bulldogs

The men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina Asheville, competing in the Big South Conference.

Longwood University

A public university located in Farmville, Virginia, and a member of the Big South Conference.

High Point University

A private university located in High Point, North Carolina, and the #1 seed in the Big South Tournament.

Gardner-Webb University

A private Baptist university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, and the #9 seed in the Big South Tournament.

Kameron Taylor

An All-Conference First Team player for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.

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What they’re saying

“You have to win your conference tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament! The next weekend is literally the whole season on the line.”

— Dean Lafferty, Team Manager (thebluebanner.net)

“This season has been rocky, we have had our ups and downs but managed to get a #4 seed which is really impressive in our conference, since it's a tough conference. A lot of schools would kill to have what we have this year, so I would consider it a successful season.”

— Dean Lafferty, Team Manager (thebluebanner.net)

“We just need to play as a unit, we need to play our brand of basketball, because when we do, there are very few teams in the country that are better than us.”

— Dean Lafferty, Team Manager (thebluebanner.net)

What’s next

The winner of the UNC Asheville vs. Longwood quarterfinal matchup will advance to face the winner of #1 High Point vs. #9 Gardner-Webb in the semifinal game on Saturday, March 7.

The takeaway

With a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line, the UNC Asheville Bulldogs are focused on playing their best basketball and capitalizing on their #4 seed in the tough Big South Conference. The team's ability to thrive in high-intensity practice conditions has them well-prepared for the physical and challenging environment of the conference tournament.