Dec 6, 2001

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. - Ravii Givens scored 26 points and added eight assists as Stetson pulled out a double overtime victory over Western Carolina Thursday night, 104-102.

Tied at 89 after the first overtime, Stetson (3-3) pulled away in the second overtime on Alexis McMillan's 3-pointer, which gave the Hatters a 97-93 lead. Stetson then hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to pull out the win.

Hitting the century mark for the first time in 10 years, Stetson had six players score in double figures. Along with Givens, Ricky McConnell (18), Santos Hampton (17), Derrick DeWitt (17), Joe McNeal (16), and McMillan (10) also had big games.

Western Carolina (3-3) was led by senior Willie Freeman, who led all scorers with a career-high 31 points. He additionally pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Freeman was a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line, which also marked a career best. While Kevin Martin did not lead the Cats in scoring for the first time this season, the freshman did score a career-high 30 points, making four 3-pointers and going 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. He just missed a double-double as he grabbed nine rebounds and added four steals.

All 11 Catamounts have now drawn a starting assisgment this season as Terrence Woodyard started for Cory Largent. Woodyard only scored two points, but he had a key blocked shot in the final seconds to force the second overtime.

Stetson's McMillan hit a huge three-pointer with under two minutes remaining in the second overtime to give Stetson a 97-93 lead. The Hatters then hit 7-of-8 free throws the rest of the way, including five by Givens, to pull out the victory.

The Hatters defense allowed them to escape the first overtime. Stetson trailed by five with 1:30 to go, but baskets by DeWitt and McNeal cut the lead to one. McNeal then stripped the ball from Martin and ended up converting a three-point play on the offensive end. Martin answered with a pair of free throws to send the game into the second overtime.

Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor, but Western Carolina owned a 44-35 edge in rebounding.

The game marked Western's second time to reach the century mark this season and just the third time in 98 times WCU has lost when scoring at least 100 points. Stetson last scored 100 points on Dec. 30, 1991 vs. Iona.

Western Carolina will return to action on Saturday (Dec.8) for a 2:00 p.m., start in Tallahasse versus Florida State.