Dec. 21, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - After Western Carolina's Negus McKenna hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 70-70 with 3:28 to trim a 10-point deficit, the College of Charleston's David Lawrence came back with a 3-pointer and free throw for a four-point play to lead the Cougars (6-6, 2-1 Southern Conference) to an 82-75 victory Thursday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.

The Catamounts (5-5, 2-1 Southern Conference) fell its 10-point deficit after Charleston center Josh Jackson hit a jumper in the paint off one of Dante Draper's seven assists. During Western's charge, Jake Robinson hit two 3-pointers and McKenna hit his to tie the game. However, Lawrence, who finished with 17 points, made his trey and free throw as the Cougars would make 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

After Lawrence converted his four-point play, Robinson answered with a 3-pointer, getting WCU to within one (74-73). Lawrence then stuck the dagger in Western's heart once again on the ensuing possession with his third trey of the night. Western could not answer and Draper would sink two free throws with 54 seconds left for a six-point Cougar lead. Up five with 20 seconds left, Draper, who was 8-of-10 at the line for the night, sealed with game with two more free throws.

In a game otherwise fairly even statistically, one anomaly was Charleston making 16-of-22 from the free throw line, including the 6-of-8 inside the final minute, while Western was just 6-of-6 for the contest.

In addition to Lawrence's 17 points, he grabbed nine rebounds. Charleston also got 17 points from Jermaine Johnson, 16 from Draper and 13 from Josh Jackson. Jackson, who is 6-8 and 255, was particularly effective in the second half against a smaller Catamount roster as the junior was 5-of-5 from the field, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the frame.

Western was led by Antonio Russell, who scored a game-high 19 points, committing zero turnovers in 39 minutes of play. The Catamounts also got a spark from their bench as Robinson made 5-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to score 13 points and McKenna chipped in 11 with six rebounds. Junior Arnold Gore continued to play well for WCU, registering his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

The first half was a back-and-forth battle with six lead changes and no team leading by more than nine, which was Charleston's cushion at halftime (47-38) after a Johnson layup.

The second half began with Charleston taking control early as Johnson converted a layup to give the Cougars an 11-point lead. The Catamounts would eventually work its deficit down to five (53-48) thanks to a 3-pointer from Russell and a Gore offensive rebound and layup, forcing a Charleston timeout. The Cougars would settle down and keep WCU in check over the next five minutes. However, Marcus Hammond hit two free throws and Jackson made his jumper in the paint to put CofC up 10 with 7:46 to go, setting up the exciting finish.

Western Carolina will return to action this Saturday (Dec. 23), facing Clemson in Clemson at Noon.