Box Score Nov. 27, 2006
Final Stats
cawood -
Western Carolina had six players score in double figures, including junior guard Antonio Russell tying a career-high with 26 points, as the Catamounts (3-1) cruised to a 117-58 victory Monday night over Toccoa Falls (4-5) in the Ramsey Activity Center. Russell was joined in double figures by Jake Robinson (17), Nick Aldridge (14), Kyle Greathouse (12), Stan Johnson (12) and Brigham Waginger (11).
Russell only missed five total shot attempts, making 10-of-14 from the field (including 2-of-3 from 3-point range) and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Robinson's 17 points were a season high for the freshman on the young season. He added six rebounds while making 6-of-8 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Aldridge accounted for four of WCU's 20 steals, a total which ties a record in the Ramsey Center. (WCU also had 20 steals in a win over Tennessee Wesleyan to open the 2001-02 season.)
Off the opening tip, Aldridge scored on a layup just 10 seconds into the game to spur Western's 7-0 run to start the game. Western would eventually build its advantage to 20-4 after four points in the paint by Stan Johnson and a Robinson 3-pointer. Toccoa Falls' John Rychener, who scored 14 points on the night, answered with a 3-pointer to cut the Eagles' deficit to 13, but that is as close as they would get the remainder of the contest.
By the end of the first half, which ended with Western leading 57-24, all 10 Catamounts had scored at least two points and eight had pulled down at least two rebounds. The Catamounts shot 49 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, but were just 3-of-11 from 3-point range.
Western ended the game shooting 56.8 percent from the field, thanks to making 7-of-13 from 3-point range in the second half. The Catamounts also held a 52-29 advantage on the boards with Brandon Giles, Negus McKenna and Johnson each collecting eight.
For the Eagles, Rychener connected on 5-of-9 shots from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Ryan Terry added eight rebounds and four assists, while Paul Mallalieu contributed five assists off the bench.
Western Carolina will return to action in two nights (Wednesday - Nov. 29), playing at Wofford in the Catamounts' 2006-07 Southern Conference opener. Tipoff in Spartanburg is set for 7:00 pm.
