UNC Asheville opens NCAA tourney OT win

By The Associated Press

Posted 9:41PM on Tuesday 15th March 2011 ( 13 years ago )

DAYTON, OHIO -- Matt Dickey led a late run that brought overtime, and J.P. Primm hit five free throws and had a decisive steal in the closing seconds Tuesday night, sending North Carolina-Asheville to an 81-77 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock in a dramatic opening game for the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs (20-13) will play Pittsburgh, the top seed in the Southeast, on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

UNC Asheville opened the "First Four" with a late comeback led by its best player. The Bulldogs led for only 51 seconds in regulation, before Dickey asserted himself. He scored 14 of the Bulldogs' last 18 points in regulation, including a 3 with 10.5 seconds to go that tied it.

Primm and Dickey had 22 points apiece.

Alex Garcia-Mendoza matched his career high with 21 points for Arkansas-Little Rock (19-17).

Arkansas-Little Rock forward Marlon Louzeiro dunks in the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina-Asheville, Tuesday, March 15, 2011, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo)

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