March 1, 2003

Final Stats

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - On ?Senior Night? at Western Carolina, the Catamount?s only senior, Kori Hatcher, had a career game, tying a career high with 23 points. However, it was Chattanooga senior Tim Parker who hit six free throws inside the final 46 second as the Mocs held on for an 83-75 victory over Western Carolina Saturday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.

The Mocs (19-8, 11-5 SoCon) were led by junior Jason Rogan, who led five from UTC in double figures. Rogan hit 3-of-6 from 3-point range in scoring 17. Also reaching double figures for the Mocs were Parker (15), Tim Harris (13), Ashley Champion (11) and Ray Trowell (10). Parker also reached a milestone with his three 3-pointers tonight, tying Wes Moore for the Chattanooga record with 167 career 3-pointers made.

Western Carolina (9-18, 6-10 SoCon) had career games from two ? Hatcher and Corey Muirhead ? while Kevin Martin led all scorers with 23. Martin, the SoCon?s leading scorer, hit 7-of-13 from the field and 7-of-9 from the line. Hatcher, playing in his final home game, made 6-of-9 shots, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, in scoring his 21. Muirhead, a freshman from York, Ontario, recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

With the Mocs leading by three (75-72), Parker drained two from the charity stripe with 46 seconds left to give UTC a five-point edge. Martin immediately answered with a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game. Parker put his team up four (79-75) with two from the line with 24 seconds left. Western committed a turnover on its next possession and Trowell extended the Mocs? lead to six (81-75) with two free throws. Western once again came up empty and, after a Champion steal, Parker sealed the game with two free throws with five seconds left.

Chattanooga?s Tim Harris hit a layup with 11:57 left in the first half to give his team a 14-13 lead. The Mocs held the advantage the remainder of the game, including a 43-30 lead at the break. The Mocs shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, compared to 38.5 by the Catamounts, and held a 22-13 rebound advantage at the break.

Chattanooga held a double-digit lead through most of the first five minutes of the second half. However, two free throws by Martin and a 3-pointer by Hatcher made it a six point game (50-44) with 14:16 left in the game. From that point, Chattanooga?s largest lead would be nine (70-61) with 5:58 left. Down nine, Western trimmed its lead to three (72-69) after a steal and a dunk by Martin with 2:29 left. Rogan put the Mocs up six with a 3-pointer, which was answered with a Hatcher trey, making the score 75-72 with 1:24 left. From that point, Parker began UTC?s streak of eight consecutive made free throws for the win.

Western Carolina will return to action Wednesday (Mar. 5) in the first round of the 2003 Mountain Dew Southern Conference Championship. The Cats, who are the fourth seed in the SoCon North, will face Georgia Southern, the fifth seed in the SoCon South, at Noon in the North Charleston Coliseum. Chattanooga will be the second seed out of the SoCon South and will have a first-round bye. The Mocs will play the late game on Thursday, versus the winner of Appalachian State and The Citadel.