October 3, 2025

UNC Asheville Men’s Basketball Finalizes Non-Conference Schedule

Asheville, NC, October 3, 2025

News Summary

The UNC Asheville men’s basketball team has announced their non-conference schedule for the upcoming season, featuring eight home games, five road contests, and two neutral-site matchups. The Bulldogs begin their season with an exhibition game against Truett McConnell before facing Wichita State in a historic opener. Notable games include a home opener against Lipscomb and a rivalry match against Western Carolina, alongside significant games against NC State and UAB. Fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets for the season’s action.

Asheville, NC – The UNC Asheville men’s basketball team has finalized its non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season, which includes a total of eight home games, two neutral-site games, and five road contests. The Bulldogs will kick off their campaign with an exhibition game against Truett McConnell on October 28 before officially beginning the season on November 4 at Wichita State, marking the first-time matchup between the two programs.

Last season, Wichita State amassed a record of 19-15 and concluded their American Conference play with an 8-10 record. Following the opener, UNC Asheville will face Georgia Southern on November 8 in Statesboro, Georgia. This encounter will also be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Georgia Southern, who ended last season with a record of 17-16, similarly finishing 8-10 in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Bulldogs will host their home opener on November 11 against Lipscomb. Asheville’s last meeting with Lipscomb occurred during the Northern Classic in 2023, where they suffered a loss with a final score of 75-86. Last season, Lipscomb achieved a sturdy record of 25-10, becoming champions of the ASun Conference and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

Another notable game includes a Mountain Rivalry matchup against Western Carolina on November 19, where Asheville is looking to replicate their past year’s success, having won the previous encounter 78-61. Incumbent upon sentimentality, this rivalry goes beyond mere sport as Asheville aims to secure their first victory in Cullowhee since 2021—marking their first Mountain Rivalry road win since 2007.

On November 25, the Bulldogs will return to Kimmel Arena to take on Tennessee State, with Asheville holding a 1-0 record against them. They will also compete against App State on November 30 and UNC Greensboro on December 2 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

A significant out-of-league game includes a visit to NC State on December 6, which will be the first matchup since Head Coach Mike Morrell’s inaugural season. NC State will also have a new coach, Will Wade, who previously worked alongside Morrell at VCU. Following this, on December 10, Asheville will play against Miami (OH) for the first time, with Miami finishing last season with a record of 25-9 in the MAC.

Asheville’s non-conference schedule also features a game against St. Thomas on December 13 for their first-ever contest, with St. Thomas completing the last season at 24-10 in the Summit League. The Bulldogs will wrap up their non-conference games at UAB on December 21 after losing to the Blazers 85-90 last season. UAB concluded their last season with a record of 24-13, finishing 13-5 in American action, and participated in the NIT.

The 2026 Big South Men’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 4-8 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, TN. Fans can currently purchase season tickets online, and inquiries regarding tickets can be directed to Harmon Turner via email or through the Ticket Central page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 2025-26 non-conference schedule include for UNC Asheville men’s basketball?

The Bulldogs’ out-of-league schedule includes eight home games, two neutral-site games, and five road games.

When does the season opener take place?

The season opener is on November 4 at Wichita State.

What was Wichita State’s record last season?

Wichita State’s record last season was 19-15, and they finished 8-10 in the American Conference.

Who will the Bulldogs face in their home opener?

The home opener is on November 11 against Lipscomb.

When does UNC Asheville play their final non-conference game?

The final non-conference game is at UAB on December 21.

How did UAB perform last season?

UAB had a record of 24-13 and finished 13-5 in American action last season, also competing in the NIT.

When will the Big South Men’s Basketball Tournament occur?

The 2026 Big South Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place from March 4-8 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, TN.

Key Features of the 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule

Game Date	Opponent	Location	Notes
October 28	Truett McConnell	Exhibition	Exhibition Game
November 4	Wichita State	Away	First matchup
November 8	Georgia Southern	Away	First meeting
November 11	Lipscomb	Home	Home Opener
November 19	Western Carolina	Away	Mountain Rivalry
November 25	Tennessee State	Home	Asheville leads series 1-0
November 30	App State	Home
December 2	UNC Greensboro	Home
December 6	NC State	Away	First matchup since Morrell’s first season
December 10	Miami (OH)	Home	First-ever matchup
December 13	St. Thomas	Home	First-ever matchup
December 16	Kentucky Christian	Home	NAIA Team
December 18	Morris College	Home	NAIA Team
December 21	UAB	Away	Last game before conference play