Dec. 1, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina, playing its third straight in the friendly confines of the Ramsey Activity Center, won its third consecutive game of the season Wednesday night with a 75-63 victory over Liberty on the strength of 22 points by junior David Berghoefer and 18 points by freshman Antonio Russell. Western improves to 3-5, while Liberty falls to 0-3.

Berghoefer, who established a career high with six steals, scored 17 first-half points, before getting in foul trouble in the second half. The Cross Plains, Wis., native ended the night by making 10-of-18 shots from the field with four rebounds. Russell picked up the slack for the Catamounts in the second frame, scoring 11 of his 18 points. Russell, who sank 7-of-14 shots from the field, played the best game of hit young career, finishing with four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Western Carolina only shot 39.1 percent from the field, compared to 45.1 percent shooting by Liberty, and the Cats only sank 18-of-28 free throws, compared to 12-of-17 from the line by the Flames. However, Western took 18 more shots from the field than Liberty (69-to-51), grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and held an overall rebound advantage of 43-35. Another key statistical comparison showed Western dishing out 15 assists with just nine turnovers and Liberty committing 20 turnovers with just six assists.

The first half featured two ties and four lead changes as no team led by more than eight points in period. Western built that eight-point advantage (32-24) with 1:53 left before the break on a Kyle Greathouse 3-pointer. Liberty made 3-of-4 free throws inside the final 1:42, while holding WCU scoreless, to make the score 32-27 in the Cats' favor at intermission.

Western scored the first basket of the second half, a Russell layup, and never looked back. The Cats would eventually build a 17-point cushion, thanks to a 10-0 run midway through the second half. The run started when Western snagged four offensive rebounds on one possession, ending with two made free throws by Lunzaya Nlandu.

The Catamount lead stayed in double digits until Larry Blair drained a 3-pointer with 4:37 remaining in the contest, making it an eight-point contest (63-55). The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before Berghoefer sealed the Flames' fate with a dunk at the 1:23 mark, making the score 73-62. After two Greathouse free throws, Liberty's Evan Risher sank 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to provide the final 12-point Catamount win (75-63).

Western's two fifth-year seniors Rans Brempong and Nlandu each turned in solid performances. Brempong only scored six points, but had nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Nlandu, getting his first start of the season, scored seven points with six rebounds. (In the 15 games Nlandu has played at Western, he has now started seven and the Cats are 6-1 with him in the starting lineup.) Corey Muirhead added 11 points and five rebounds for the Cats.

Liberty was led by David Dees and Larry Blair. Dees scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Blair had 15 points and six boards. Rell Porter came off the Flame bench to tally seven boards, while Rashad Robinson had seven rebounds as well.

Western Carolina will return to action this Saturday (Dec. 4) in the annual Mountain Hoops Classic versus UNC Asheville at the Asheville Civic Center. The game is a doubleheader with the women's teams. The Lady Cats and Bulldogs will start at 2 pm, with the men set to start at 4:30 pm.