ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Ahmad Thomas scored 25 points with five steals and UNC Asheville defeated Charleston Southern 91-73 on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs (17-7, 9-2) won their fourth in a row and are in a three-way tie with Liberty and Winthrop for first place in the Big South.

Thomas' five steals gave him 71 this season. He became the first Big South player with consecutive seasons of 70 steals since VMI's Chavis Holmes (2006-08).

Thomas had five points in an early 11-0 run and scored 15 in the first half with Asheville taking a 44-34 lead. The Buccaneers (7-15, 3-8) got within nine in the opening minutes of the second half before falling back by double figures for the remainder of the game in losing their third straight.

David Robertson, with five 3-pointers, added 16 points and Kevin Vannatta had 11 rebounds to go with 11 points.

Armel Potter, Christian Keeling and Cortez Mitchell all scored 14 points for Charleston Southern.

Asheville swept the season series, beating Charleston Southern 76-67 on Jan. 14.

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