Nov. 29, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina senior Rans Brempong scored a career-high 22 points, adding four rebounds and four blocked shots, to lead the Catamounts (2-5) to a 94-66 victory over Montreat (1-6) Monday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.

Brempong, who sparked WCU's second-half run by making all four of his shots from the field in the period, sank 8-of-10 shots from the field overall and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Junior David Berghoefer registered his first double-double of the season (15 points and 11 rebounds) as the Catamounts had a total of five players score in double figures. Berghoefer shook off a slow first half, which he made just 2-of-7 shots from the field and 1-of-4 from the line, to make 2-of-3 field goals in the second half and all six of his free throws.

Montreat put three players in double figures, including a game-high 25 points from David Robinson. The Asheville native and T.C. Roberson HS product sank 7-of-15 3-point attempts. Also reaching double figures for the Cavaliers were Anthony Noble (13) and Tim Lewis (10).

Western raced out to a 9-0 lead to start the game only to have the Cavaliers answer with a 9-3 run over their own to make it a three-point game (12-9) with 12:02 left in the first half. Montreat kept it close over the next five minutes before eventually taking a three-point lead (23-20) with 5:45 left. The lead would change hands two more times and Negus McKenna would give the Cats a four-point lead at the break on a 3-pointer from the left corner with six seconds left.

Not only was the score close at halftime, but the teams were nearly statistically even with Western shooting 41.2 percent from the field and Montreat shooting 40.9. The Cats pulled down 19 rebounds and the Cavs had 16. While Western sank 14 field goals, only one was from 3-point range. On the other side, Montreat only had nine field goals, including five 3-pointers to keep the game close.

With Western leading by three with 16:31 left in the second half, Brempong had a blocked shot which led to a fast break dunk by Corey Muirhead to spark a 10-0 run and make the score 52-39 with 14:06 remaining. Montreat worked its deficit to eight (58-50) over the next three minutes, but that would be as close as the Cavaliers would get. From that point, Trey Hopkins put the game out of reach by scoring seven points during a 17-5 WCU run, giving Western a 21-point lead (76-55) with 6:44 left.

In the second half, Western shot a blistering 64.5 percent from the field, compared to just 33.3 shooting by Montreat. Western, who out-scored the Cavs 60-36 in the second half, also out-rebounded Montreat 23-12 in the final 20 minutes.

Hopkins finished with 11 points, four assists and three steals, while fellow freshman Antonio Russell chipped in 10 points with four steals. Muirhead added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Western Carolina will return to the Ramsey Center on Wednesday (Dec. 1) to host Liberty. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm. Prior to the Catamount-Flame game, Western's women's basketball team, fresh off a championship at the Alaska-Fairbanks Thanksgiving Tournament, will host High Point at 5 pm.