Box Score Nov. 21, 2003
Final Stats
Athens, Ga. -
Western Carolina cut an 18-point halftime deficit to four points on three occasions, the last being a 71-67 Georgia lead with 44 seconds left in the game, but the Bulldogs hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on for a 78-67 win in the teams' 2003-04 season openers Friday night at Stegeman Coliseum.
All-American candidate Kevin Martin played a key role in Western's second-half come back attempt. The junior guard scored 44 points, his second-best career effort, tying a career high with seven three pointers made and 14 field goals made. Martin had nine points at the half, making just 2-of-9 shots, 2-of-5 from 3-point range. In the second half, Martin was 12-of-16 from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point range. He added five rebounds and three steals.
Martin's career high was scoring 46 in last year's season opener for the Cats versus Coastal Carolina. Tonight marked the 11th time Martin has scored at least 30 points in a game his short career. Martin moved two spots on the WCU career scoring list to 19th, now with 1,209.
A spectacular ally-oop dunk by
Corey Muirhead made the score 16-16 with 10:43 left in the first however. However, Georgia would go on a 20-2 run to end the first half to take a 36-18 lead at the break. Western only shot 26.1 percent from the field, while committing 16 turnovers. The Bulldogs shot 43.3 percent in the period.
The Catamounts started the second half with a 7-0 run, but Georgia was able to keep its distance. A 3-pointer by Martin with 9:37 left made it an eight point game (46-38). Martin's hot hand kept the Georgia lead in single digits over most of the final nine minutes.
Western first cut its deficit to four with 5:13 left. After a Kyle Greathouse 3-pointer, Kevin Martin got a steal and found Muirhead down the floor for a dunk, making the score 55-51. Bulldog senior Jonas Hayes hit a pair of free throws with 4:16 left, only to have David Berghoefer answer with a layup to once again make it a four point game (57-53).
The Bulldogs had a run of free throws, while Western was held scoreless, to push their lead back up to as many as 12 (66-54) with 1:49 remaining in the game. Martin would score Western's nest 13 points, making the score 71-67 with 44 seconds left. Hayes answered with a layup for the Bulldogs and reserve guard Jay McAuley hit 3-of-4 free throws to put the game out or reach for Georgia, leading 76-67 with 13 seconds left. Buzz Wehunt hit a layup as time expired for the final 78-67 margin.
Over the final 20 minutes, Western shot 47.1 percent (16-of-34), while the Catamount defense held Georgia to just 39.1 percent shooting. The Cats also committed just five turnovers in the second half, while forcing the Bulldogs to commit 12.
In addition to Martin's 44 points, Muirhead and Berghoefer each scored seven for the Cats. Lunzaya Nlandu and Rans Brempong, who had a wisdom tooth broken in the first half, each pulled down six rebounds. Greathouse had four assists with just one turnover and two steals in 24 minutes in his collegiate debute. James Johnson added five assists.
For the Bulldogs, Damien Wilkins, who was 10-of-10 at the free throw line, led the way with 16 points. Hayes finished with 14 and Chris Daniels scored 12 points with seven rebounds.
Western Carolina will return to the road Tuesday, Nov. 25, facing the Big East's Virginia Tech. Tip off in Blacksburg is set for 7 pm.
