MIKE GORE, CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT Published 5:46 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017 | Updated 7:00 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017

The Bulldogs bench reacts after Ahmad Thomas scores a slam dunk Saturday afternoon against Liberty. Thomas poured in a career-high 31 points to help UNC Asheville win the game before a frenzied crowd of nearly 3,000.(Photo: Maddy Jones/mjones@citizen-times.com)Buy Photo

Ahmad Thomas made sure UNC Asheville got at least a share of a championship on Saturday.

The junior forward scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Bulldogs to a hard-fought 63-45 victory over Liberty before a frenzied crowd of 2,929 at Kimmel Arena.

The win propelled Asheville (23-5, 15-3) to at least a share of the Big South Conference regular-season championship. Now the Bulldogs must wait on the outcome of the Winthrop-Presbyterian College and High Point-Gardner Webb games and then perhaps a tiebreaker procedure to play out that may not determine the top seed until the next RPI figures are released. The latest RPI figures will come out Sunday morning. The top seed will host at least the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Big South Tournament starting on Thursday.

The RPI is a ratings percentage index that uses several factors to rate Division I mens college basketball teams. It is used by the NCAA Tournament Committee to help select and seed teams for the tourney. The lower the number, the better the ranking. Asheville entered Saturdays action at 74, with Winthrop right behind them at 75.

UNC Ashevilles Ahmad Thomas takes a shot during Saturday afternoons game against Liberty at the Kimmel Arena. Thomas, a junior forward, scored a career-high 31 points to help the Bulldogs defeat Liberty 63-45.(Photo: Maddy Jones/mjones@citizen-times.com)

Bulldog coach Nick McDevitt was fine with the RPI being used to determine whether Asheville or Winthrop hosts the Big South Tournament.

Its different but what are you doing to do, stated McDevitt. I mean Winthrop and Asheville are tied and when you look at all the different tie-breakers were still tied. You have to have something to break the tie and an RPI isnt a bad way to do it. Its better than a coin flip or point differential. Hopefully, our tough non-conference schedule will reward us but well see.

A teams non-conference schedule is one of the factors that goes into an RPI.

Asheville entered the day tied with Liberty and Winthrop for first place at 15-3. The win by the Bulldogs was their first share of a regular-season title since 2012.

For the Bulldogs to worry about their RPI, they first had to beat Liberty. The Flames led by seven midway through the first half and led 26-25 at halftime. Liberty forward Myo Baxter-Bell dominated Asheville inside with 14 points.

We didnt do a good job on Bell in the first half and Libertys defense stymied us, said McDevitt. They double-teamed us whenever the ball went into the post and we werent moving very well. We did a much better job in the second half in both areas.

Thomas simply took over the game in the second half. The Big South Player of the Year Candidate scored 23 points in the second stanza, including a four-of-four effort from beyond the arc. He also had an emphatic dunk that gave the Bulldogs a 44-40 lead with eight minutes left. The junior forward hit three of his treys in the final four minutes to allow Asheville to sprint away from the Flames (19-12, 14-4).

We made some tweaks at halftime both on offense and defense, stated Thomas afterwards. And our coaches did a good job of finding places for me to get the ball and get good looks. We just got tougher in the second half.

The Bulldogs out-rebounded Liberty 36-26 and allowed the visitors to have only one offensive rebound in the second half. Asheville outscored the Flames, 38-19 in the second half. The 45 points allowed was a season-low for a Bulldog opponent.

Ahmad was incredible today. He was special and just put on an amazing performance, added McDevitt.

David Robertson drives to the basket Saturday afternoon during the Big South regular season championship game against Liberty at the Kimmel Arena. UNC Asheville defeated Liberty 63-45.(Photo: Maddy Jones/mjones@citizen-times.com)

Macio Teauge bounds towards the basket Saturday afternoon against Liberty during the Big South regular season championship game at the Kimmel Arena. UNC Asheville defeated Liberty 63-45.(Photo: Maddy Jones/mjones@citizen-times.com)

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UNC Asheville downs Liberty to gain share of title - Asheville Citizen-Times