Dec 2, 2002

Final Stats

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Kevin Martin scored 39 points and led a furious second-half rally Monday night. However, UNC Asheville guard Andre Smith drained five free throws inside the final minute to preserve a 77-72 Bulldog victory at the Asheville Civic Center. The Catamounts fall to 2-2 for the season, while UNC Asheville improves to 2-2.

Martin made 10-of-19 shots from the field, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, and was 14-of-17 at the free throw line. He additionally led the Cats by pulling down eight rebounds with two assists and a steal. The Zanesville, Ohio, native scored 25 of his 39 points in the second half to help trim Western's 17-point deficit (49-32) to three (68-65) with 3:36 left.

With 15:39 left in the contest and Western trailing by 14 (49-35), Martin made two free throws and would go on to score eight straight for the Cats. WCU worked its deficit to nine when Martin connected on three straight free throws with 4:48 left. Martin's trey with 3:36 left made the score 68-65, but the Cats would get no closer. Over the final five minutes, Martin scored 13 of Western's final 16 points in the game. The lone exception was a Corey Muirhead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left.

With UNC Asheville clinging to the three-point lead with 3:36 left, Ben McGonagil made the first of two free throws with 3:23 left. However, Kavoris Bivins got the rebound on McGonagil's miss and scored on a put-back to give the Bulldogs a six-point lead again. Smith, after missing his first free throw inside the final minute, connected on his next five to preserve the win.

Smith led UNC Asheville's offense with 17 points, making 10-of-12 at the line, and six assists. McGonagil recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Alex Kragel contributed 14 points as well. Forward Joseph Barber added 11 points and six rebounds, providing a big lift for UNCA with eight first-half points.

Martin, who set a WCU Ramsey Center record with 46 points in the season opener versus Coastal Carolina, is now averaging 27.8 points per game, while playing just 26.8 minutes per contest. The 39 points for Martin ties his second-highest single-game production of his career, matching the total from a double-overtime game versus The Citadel last season.

Muirhead reached double figures for the first time in his young career, scoring 10 points, while grabbing six rebounds.

Western Carolina will return to action Wednesday (Dec. 4) versus Reinhardt. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Activity Center.