Nov. 30, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - After missing the first two games of the season due to an injury, junior Rans Brempong registered a double-double in his first action of the year to lead Western Carolina (2-1) to a 94-55 victory over Southeastern College (4-7) Saturday afternoon at the Ramsey Center.

Brempong, who broke a bone in his left hand on Nov. 5, scored 16 points, which is his second-highest output of his career, and grabbed 10 rebounds in recording his third career double-double. The Thornhill, Ontario, native finished the game by making 6-of-10 shots from the field, getting five boards on each end of the floor, blocking two shots and coming away with three steals.

Western's Kevin Martin gave his Cats an early 5-0 lead, draining a 3-pointer and converting a layup in the first 40 seconds of the game. However, Southeastern would score seven unanswered as part of an 11-4 run to take a two-point lead, 11-9, four minutes into the contest. Terrence Woodyard hit a layup to tie the contest, then Jared Outing connected on a pair of free throws to put WCU up two, 13-11, a lead the Cats would not relinquish the remainder of the game.

Woodyard's layup to tie the game was part of a 15-3 run by the Catamounts. The run was capped by an Alex Osipovitch 3-pointer to make the score 24-14. The Crusaders would trim its deficit to six three times in the first half, the last coming a 6:59 with WCU leading 31-25. From that point, Western went on a 19-4 run to lead by 21, 50-29, with 1:12 left before halftime. A 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer by Southeastern's Marcus McDonald made the score 52-34 at the break, but that is as close as the Crusaders would get the rest of the contest.

Kori Hatcher made two free throws as the season half began to push the Cats' lead to 20. Western, who held Southeastern to just 21 second-half points, gradually pulled away throughout the final 20 minutes, taking its largest lead of the game with 1:01. That bucket, scored by Jared Outing, provided the final margin, 94-55.

In addition to Brempong, Martin, Osipovitch and Outing scored in double figures with 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively. Osipovitch, who had career highs in points and rebounds, added eight boards while Outing had seven. Hatcher had seven points, seven assists and six rebounds. Overall, Western out-rebounded the Crusaders 55-25 and allowed Southeastern just two offensive rebound for the contest.

Southeastern was led by Jeremy Holcombe's eight points, while Mark MacFawn, Phillip Hooks and McDonald each scored seven points.

Western Carolina will return to action Monday (Dec. 2) versus regional rival UNC Asheville as part of a doubleheader in the Asheville Civic Center. The Lady Cats and Bulldogs will tip-off at 5:30 pm with the men's contest set to start at approximately 7:30 pm.