Preview: UNC Asheville at Longwood FARMVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A pivotal Big South Conference men’s basketball matchup unfolds Thursday night when the Longwood Lancers host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Willett Hall. Both teams enter with identical 6-5 conference records, seeking momentum in the league standings. Longwood (13-13 overall) holds a slight edge in total wins over UNC Asheville (11-13), but the Bulldogs won the season’s first meeting, 72-61, in Asheville on Jan. 7. The game features two of the conference’s top offensive threats. UNC Asheville will lean on guard Kameron Taylor, who is averaging 22.2 points per game over his last six contests. Taylor is coming off a 21-point, five-assist performance in a 76-67 home win over South Carolina Upstate last Wednesday. Longwood counters with guard Johan Nziemi, who has been a consistent scorer. He posted 20 points in a road win at Gardner-Webb on Feb. 4 and followed with 13 points and five rebounds in a narrow 79-74 loss at Winthrop last Saturday. The Lancers have struggled recently, dropping three of their last four games. Their offense stalled in a 71-59 home loss to High Point on Jan. 31 and a 65-60 defeat at Upstate on Jan. 29. They will need improved efficiency against an Asheville team that has shown defensive prowess, holding opponents under 70 points in three of its last five outings. UNC Asheville’s form has been uneven, mixing strong wins with close losses. After the victory over Upstate, the Bulldogs fell 84-71 at Winthrop on Jan. 31. Their success often hinges on Taylor’s backcourt production and support from players like Toyaz Solomon, who had 15 points and five assists in the last game. For Longwood, balancing Nziemi’s output with contributions from forwards like Elijah Tucker, who grabbed eight rebounds against Winthrop, will be key. The Lancers are 8-3 at home this season, while the Bulldogs are 3-9 on the road. Thursday’s contest is the first of two games in three days for both teams. Longwood hosts South Carolina Upstate on Saturday, while UNC Asheville returns home to face Presbyterian. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.