Dec 10, 2002

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - In this Western Carolina's 75th season of men's varsity basketball, senior Kori Hatcher scored a career-high 21 points in leading the Catamounts (3-3) to a 96-81 victory and securing the program's 1,000th all-time win Tuesday night versus North Greenville (1-5) at the Ramsey Center.

Western was without All-Southern Conference guard Kevin Martin. The sophomore, who leads the SoCon and ranks fourth nationally with his 27.0 scoring average, was sidelined with an illness.

Hatcher (Valdosta, Ga.) drained all four of his 3-point attempts, was 6-of-7 from the field overall and made 5-of-6 free throws. He added five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Hatcher, whose previous best was scoring 16 points at Georgia Southern last season, scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half.

Down 47-39 at the break, Western got a spark off the bench as reserves Emre Atsur and Brian Gaither started the second half and, along with Hatcher, led the Cats to the come-from-behind victory. Atsur, a junior guard, played all 20 minutes in the second half, scoring a career-high 14 points with three assists and two steals. Gaither, who has split time as WCU's starting quarterback each of the last two seasons, saw his first ever collegiate basketball action, playing 17 minutes with three points, three rebounds and two assists. Gaither (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor HS) began practicing with the team last week and was told earlier today that he would dress for tonight's contest.

Western's L.T. Lockett put Western up early with a 3-pointer seconds into the game. However, North Greenville scored the next five points to take a 5-3 lead. In a half which featured four ties and 13 lead changes, Western looked to be in control of the game, taking a five-point lead (30-25) on a layup by Lockett with 9:23 left. Once again, North Greenville battled back and took a one-point advantage (33-32) with 5:50 remaining. Then, Spartan freshman Kori Searcy hit a 3-pointer at the 1:57 mark to tie the contest at 39. From that point, North Greenville would score eight unanswered points to close the half - the final two on a technical foul called on the WCU bench as time expired in the first period - and take a 47-39 lead at the break. While Western shot 53.8 percent from the field in the period, it committed 16 turnovers. The Spartans made 9-of-9 free throws in the first half and drained six 3-pointers for the halftime lead.

Hatcher got the Cats on track to start the second half, getting a steal and making a pair of free throws early. Then, he would make consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 47. Terrence Woodyard, who scored 17 points, made a conventional 3-point play at the 16:18 mark to give the Cats a 51-50 lead, one they would not relinquish.

While Western led the final 14 minutes, the game remained in question until the final five and half minutes. With Western holding an eight-point advantage (81-73), Atsur drained a 3-pointer to spark an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to give the Cats a 92-73 lead with 2:46 left and seal the program's 1,000th all-time win.

Hatcher's backup, James Johnson also scored a career-high. The redshirt freshman made 2-of-3 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line to score 11 points. Woodyard and Rans Brempong had eight and seven rebounds, respectively, to help the Cats post a 42-32 rebound advantage over the Spartans.

North Greenville was led by Rob Wilton and Searcy, who each scored 24 points. Wilton, who had game-highs with nine rebounds and six assists, was 11-of-11 at the line, while Searcy made 6-of-12 3-pointers. The Spartans also got an offensive boost from Delwyn Rollins, who drained four 3-pointers from well beyond the arc, and Trevor Boggs' 17 points.

Western Carolina will be off for exams the remainder of the week, returning to action Dec. 18 at West Virginia. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm at the WVU Coliseum. Western will then travel to Huntington to face former SoCon foe Marshall on Dec. 20.

NOTE: In addition to getting its 1,000th all-time win, Western celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first ever SoCon win. On Dec. 10, 1977, Western won at The Citadel, 65-64, in its first ever SoCon game.