Feb. 24, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Casey Rogers scored a game-high 18 points, including two clutch free throws with 16 seconds left to put the Catamounts up three, to lead Western Carolina to a 63-58 upset victory over UNC Greensboro Saturday night in the Ramsey Center.

Rogers was joined in double figures by junior Willie Freeman, who provided the final five-point margin with a pair of free throws with four seconds left, and freshman Emre Atsur. Freeman, who was 4-of-9 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line, finished the game with 13 points and just missed a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. Atsur scored five points in each half to register a career high with 10 points. He additionally played a career-high 17 minutes, going 4-for-5 from the field and making both his 3-point attempts.

Western trailed by as many as six midway through the first half before tying the game at 20-20 at the 7:15 mark on an Atsur layup. The Cats would extend their lead to six, 31-25 with 2:11 left, and take a 31-29 lead at the break.

The Catamounts went on a 14-6 run to start the second half and claim a 10-point lead, 45-35, which was the largest lead of the game. The Spartans answered with an 11-1 run of their own to tie the contest at 46-46 with 10:17 left. Atsur ended the WCU slide with a 3-pointer, giving Western the lead once again.

UNC Greensboro kept the game close over the next nine minutes, trailing by no more than five. With 1:55 left in the game, Ronnie Taylor made a layup to give the Spartans their first, and only, lead of the second period. Rogers immediately answered with a layup to put WCU back on top by one, 59-58.

UNC Greensboro had a chance to tie and even take the lead, but Courtney Eldridge missed the front end of a one-and-one with 28 seconds left. From that point, Rogers and Freeman made their free throws to preserve the game.

P Senior Ricky Gandy, who was making his final appearance in the Ramsey Center, closed his two-year WCU career in fine fashion, scoring nine points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting overall and 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Other Catamounts seniors to be honored prior to tip-off were Eryon Ford, Neil Rasnake and Todd Seibert.

The Spartans put four players in double figures, paced by David Schuck and Jay Joesph with 14 each. Ronnie Taylor and Nathan Jameson also surpassed the double digit plateau, tallying 12 and 11, respectively.

Western Carolina enters 2001 Mountain Dew Southern Conference Championship as the number six seed. They will play in the tournament's first game on Thursday (March 1) at 2:30 p.m. The SoCon Tournament will be held March 1-4 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C. Tickets may be purchased by contact the WCU ticket office at 1-800-34-GOWCU.