Feb. 17, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Idris Harper drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:10 left in the game to break a tied contest and spur Chattanooga to a 76-71 victory over Western Carolina Saturday night in the Ramsey Center.

After Harper's jumper, making the score 72-69, Western Carolina was able to cut the advantage to one, 72-71, on a Ricky Gandy layup with 20 seconds remaining. However, Tim Parker and Bryan Richardson each made a pair of free throws over the final 10 seconds to preserve the win.

Western Carolina was not able to capitalize on having four players reach double-figures in scoring. Junior Cory Largent, who tied for game scoring honors with 18, tied a career high with five 3-pointers and added nine rebounds. Willie Freeman matched Largent's effort with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Gandy tied a season high with 15 points. Junior Casey Rogers added 11 points and eight assists.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 16-point lead (26-10) at the 12:52 mark in the first half and led by 10 (31-21) with 6:56 to go in the first 20 minutes. However, the Mocs went on a 13-1 run over a three-minute span to take a 33-32 lead. The Catamounts scored four straight points late in the period to take a two-point lead. However, a 3-pointer by UTC's Richardson gave The Mocs a one-point advantage, 40-39, at intermission.

The second half was a seesaw battle throughout. Chattanooga scored the first five points in the half, making the score 45-39, to grab a six-point lead, the largest of the period. The second half additionally featured five ties and five lead changes. The first tie (51-51) came at the 13:04 mark when Ricky Gandy dunked home an offensive rebound for the Cats and was quickly followed by the first lead change on a Largent 3-pointer. Chattanooga regained the lead on a long-range bomb by Toot Young at the 10:56 mark. After trading baskets, the Catamounts took a 60-58 lead with 8:02 left on a Casey Rogers free throw and held the advantage for nearly six minutes, although the game was tied three times during the span.

Chattanooga's Young made the final of his four 3-pointers on the night at the 1:50 mark to give the Mocs a 3-point lead. WCU's Gandy immediately answered by with a long-range jumper of his own to knot the game at 69 before Harper's clutch basket with 70 seconds left in the contest.

Young led the Mocs with 18 points. Chattanooga got 35 points of its bench, led by Dusty Pullian's 15 and Richardson's 13. Starting center Oliver Morton added 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.

Western Carolina falls to 4-23 on the season, 2-12 in the Southern Conference, while Chattanooga improves to 14-11, 8-6 SoCon. The Catamounts will return to action Monday night (Feb. 19) when they host Wofford. Tip-off is schedule for 8 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.