Bulldogs race past Ramblers for 3rd place

ANCHORAGE – Reserve guard Dylan Smith scored 15 of his game-high 17 points after halftime to help UNC Asheville rally for a 59-48 victory over Loyola Chicago in the third-place game of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (3-4) also got 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from starting guard Dwayne Sutton, plus six points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals from point guard Kevin Vannatta as they erased a 28-22 halftime deficit.

The Ramblers (4-3) were led by nine points and six rebounds from senior guard Milton Doyle, but the Missouri Valley Conference club shot just 6 of 23 (.261) and committed 13 of their 19 turnovers in the second half.

After Loyola's Devon Turk gave his team a 37-32 lead with a three-pointer at the 11:53 mark, the Bulldogs would hold the Ramblers without a field goal for the for nearly 10 minutes, outscoring them 21-2 during that stretch.

Loyola – making its first GCI Shootout appearance – placed fifth in the 8-team tournament, which is celebrating its 38th annual edition this week.

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