Nov. 26, 2005

Final Stats

High Point, N.C. - High Point's Arizona Reid scored a game-high 24 points, including 8-of-10 from the free throw line, as the Panthers rallied from nine points down in the second half to pull out a 73-66 victory over Western Carolina Saturday night at the Millis Athletic Center.

Western, who led 55-46 with 16:02 left in the game, did not score for over 13 minutes as the Panthers went on a 19-0 run to lead by 10. Antonio Russell, who scored 18 points for the Catamounts, broke the streak with two free throws at the 2:58 mark. High Point would sink their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

The Panthers (3-1) trailed for much of the opening period as WCU (2-5) scorched the nets at a 66.7 percent pace (14 of 21) including hitting four of five trey tries in the first half. The Catamounts led by as much as nine points twice in the first period and seemed to hit a big shot every time HPU made a charge.

Leading 41-35 at the break, Western Carolina would extend its advantage to 55-46 with just over 16 minutes to play on a dunk by Corey Muirhead. From that point, the Panther defense took control of the game forcing turnovers and holding the Catamount attack scoreless until Russell's free throws with 2:58 showing on the clock.

During the WCU drought, High Point freshman Justin Dunn scored all of his eight points during the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers. Sophomore Terrance Stokes gave HPU its first lead, 57-55, of the second half with a layup at the 8:17 mark. The Panthers were a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line in the closing two minutes to ice the victory.

In addition to scoring 24 points, Reid just missed his third consecutive double-double after hauling down a team best nine rebounds. Senior Akeem Scott finished with 19 points including a trio of 3-pointers and also handed out four assists. Fellow senior Issa Konare chipped in 10 points in the win. Landon Quick added eight points and Dunn also paced the squad with five assists.

Russell's 18 points led a trio of Catamounts in double digits. Kyle Greathouse knocked down four treys en route to 14 points and Muirhead ended the night with 12. Negus McKenna led the way on the glass for WCU with six rebounds.

For the game, WCU shot 48.9 percent from the floor (33.3 percent in the second half) while HPU connected at a 46.2 percent pace. The Panthers earned a slight 30-29 edge on the boards and forced Western into 20 turnovers while committing just 16 of their own. HPU was able to score 24 points off of WCU's miscues on the night.

Western Carolina and Zaxby's will commemorate the Catamounts' own Ronnie Carr making the first 3-point basket in NCAA history on November 28 when WCU hosts Toccoa Falls. That game is one night prior to the 25th anniversary of the historic shot, which was made from the left wing in Reid Gym. More specifically, the shot came with 16:09 left in the first half at 7:06 pm on Nov. 29, 1980 in a win over Middle Tennessee State.

On Monday, Carr will be on hand for a special recognition of "The Shot" and, starting that night, each 3-pointer Western Carolina makes, Catamount cheerleaders will throw out t-shirts, sponsored by Zaxby's.