Jan 18, 2003

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Citadel forward Max Mombollet converted 17-of-19 free throw attempts and totaled 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs past Western Carolina, 83-69, in Southern Conference basketball action Saturday afternoon in McAlister Field House.

In a game ridden with 59 fouls - with four Catamounts and three Bulldogs fouling out - The Citadel connected on 42-of-54 charity shots, while Western hit 18-of-30. With the victory The Citadel improves to 6-9, 1-3 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina falls to 4-11, 1-3 SoCon.

Western Carolina jumped out to an early 9-2 lead. However, center Rans Brempong played under two minutes in the first half, picking up two quick fouls. The Citadel drained three straight 3-pointers to make it a two-point game with 12:47 left in the period. Mombollet hit a pair of free throws a minute later to give the Bulldogs their first lead. Dante Terry followed with his third trey of the day to give The Citadel a 19-15 lead, one it would not relinquish the remainder of the game. While Western trimmed its deficit to one, 21-20 with 6:44 left, the Bulldogs would lead by as many as 10 before Western's Terrence Woodyard's 3-pointer made the score 31-24 at the break.

In the second half, Bulldog forward Romas Krywonis hit a quick jumper, but it would be the Bulldog's only field goal made over the next nine minutes. However, Western's first field goal would not come until four minutes into the period and the Bulldogs proceeded to hit 8-of-10 free throws to maintain its advantage. The Citadel began hitting 3-pointers and would lead by as many as 19 on two occasions, the last coming with 7:14 left (58-39). The Bulldogs only made one field goal over the final 5:32 and Western employed an effective press which allowed the Cats to make it a 10-point game, 71-61, with 1:53 left.

Mombollet would score 12 points inside the final 3:17, including 10 consecutive free throws, to seal the Bulldog win. Of his 21 points for the game, four came on field goals, while the remainder were all via the free-throw line. Mombollet's 17 free throws was the third highest total in Citadel history. Junior guard Erick Wilson and freshman guard Dante Terry each scored 16, while senior forward Clyde Wormley added 11.

Western Carolina's Kevin Martin led all scorers as he totaled 27 points, including 11-of-16 at the line, with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Forward Jared Outing, who earned his second starting assignment of the season, led the Catamounts with eight rebounds, while Kori Hatcher had six assists and five rebounds with just two turnovers in 34 minutes of action.

Western Carolina ends its three-game road swing by returning home to take on Appalachian State on Tuesday (Jan. 21). Tip-off is set for 7 pm at the Ramsey Activity Center. The WCU athletic department will host its second annual "Beach Night at the RAC" on Tuesday as well.