Box Score Jan. 19, 2004
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Western Carolina sophomore David Berghoefer had game highs with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Kevin Martin added 22 points, to lead the Catamounts (9-7, 3-3 SoCon) to a 78-73 victory over UNC Greensboro (5-11, 2-4) Monday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.
Berghoefer, who is the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, had struggled lately, getting just six points and 15 rebounds in the past two games combined. Tonight, Berghoefer made 9-of-13 shots from the field and all six of his free throws in scoring his 24 points. Of his 14 rebounds, seven came on each end of the floor.
Martin, the nation's leading scorer (now a 27.7 avg.), was 7-of-14 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line to get his 22 points. Sophomore Corey Muirhead added 12 for the Cats, going 5-of-6 from the field.
No team led by more than six points through the first 19 minutes. After an early tie - the only one of the first half - Western led from the 18:06 mark of the first half until 10:21. The Spartans took a brief one-point lead (17-16) on a Ronnie Taylor jumper. The lead would flip-flop three times until Emre Atsur drained a 3-pointer at the 7:22 mark, giving WCU a 23-22 lead. Western would score six straight for a 28-22 lead with 5:52 left before the break. UNCG rallied with an 18-5 run over the next five minutes to gain a seven-point lead, 40-33 with 39 seconds left in the first period. The teams traded baskets, including a Ray Bristow runner in the lane as the fist half ended, as UNCG led 42-35 at the break.
Both teams scorched the nets in the first half as UNCG shot 51.4 percent from the field and Western shot 52 percent. Western held a slight advantage on the boards, 17-12. However, the Spartans had 10 assists with just three turnovers, while the Catamounts had 10 turnover with just six assists.
The second half was much of the same with four ties and no team leading by more than seven until the final seconds of the game. Western came out with better full-court pressure to start the second half. The Cats forced three quick turnovers and trimmed its seven-point deficit to one (42-41) a minute and half into the second half, forcing a UNCG timeout. The teams virtually traded baskets over the next 10 minutes. With the game tied at 53-53 with 9:53 left, Terrence Woodyard got a fastbreak layup, was fouled and converted the conventional 3-point play. That would start a 9-2 run by WCU, giving the Cats a seven-point lead (62-55) with 7:16 left.
However, the Spartans' Ronnie Burrell would spark an 11-0 run, getting five points, two assists and two rebounds. Burrell's play gave UNCG a 66-62 lead with 4:48 left. Two free throws by Martin and an ally-oop dunk from Emre Atsur to Muirhead tied the game at 66 with 3:47 left. A missed 3-pointer by the Spartans followed by a dunk by David Berghoefer with 2:55 left gave Western Carolina a two-point lead (68-66) - a lead the Cats would not surrender. A steal and a dunk by Martin put WCU up four (70-66). Josh Gross hit a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession for the Spartans with 2:17 left. However, that is as close as UNCG would get the remainder of the game.
Western's improved defense in the second half held UNCG to just 37.5 percent shooting. Also the Spartans only managed four assists with 10 turnovers in the final 20 minutes. The Catamounts' offense kept their feverish pace in the second half, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the line (12-of-13). Western additionally had 12 assists in the second half with just five turnovers.
The double-double for Berghoefer was his fifth of the season and his third in SoCon action. The Cross Plains, Wis., native added three assists, which tied a career high. Atsur, getting his second consecutive start, only scored five points on 1-of-7 shooting. However, the Istanbul, Turkey, native had seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and just one turnover in 33 minutes. James Johnson came off the bench to provide a spark with three points, five assists and zero turnovers.
UNC Greensboro had four players in double figures. Burrell led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds. Gross provided 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Jay Joseph and Ricky Hickman added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Western Carolina will hit the road for a game at Chattanooga on Saturday (Jan. 24). Tip-off is set for 7 pm. After the game at Chattanooga, Western will enjoy a four-game home stand with games on Jan. 26 (The Citadel), Jan. 31 (East Tennessee State), Feb. 2 (Piedmont) and Feb. 7 (Chattanooga).
