Jan. 3, 2007

Final Stats |   

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina connected on 10-of-20 attempts in the second half - seven beyond the 3-point arc - to down the upset-minded Western Carolina Catamounts, 67-53, Wednesday night at the Colonial Center.

Western (5-9) put three players in double-figures led by 13 from freshman Jake Robinson who was 5-of-7 from the field including a 3-for-5 showing from long range. The Canton, N.C., native also swiped a career-best three steals. Robinson's frontcourt classmate, Nick Aldridge, added a dozen points, three assists and a pair of steals in the loss with Negus McKenna hitting three, 3-pointers to finish with 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Freshman Brandon Giles dished out four assists, one shy of tying his career high, and scored six while Arnold Gore tallied eight points.

The Catamounts trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, but closed the opening stanza on a 17-to-7 run to trim the deficit to one point, 29-28, at the half. Out of intermission, the game see-sawed back-and-forth before Western was able to tie the game at 34 then take a one-point, 35-34, lead on a pair of Aldridge free throws at the 16:52 mark. However, an 8-0 spurt by South Carolina erased WCU's advantage and gave the Gamecocks an advantage they would not relinquish.

Refusing to go away, the Catamounts managed to cut the USC lead to two, 51-49, at the 7:59 mark, but a six minute scoring drought for Western helped South Carolina pull away for its sixth-consecutive victory.

On the night, USC held a 36-to-26 edge on the boards and the Gamecocks were whistled for just 11 fouls as compared to Western's 22. As a direct result, South Carolina shot 28 free throws, nailing 22, while the Catamounts were only awarded with two successful opportunities.

South Carolina (10-2), playing without leading scorer Tre Kelley, duplicated the trio of Catamounts in double-figures led by a game-high 20 from Bryce Sheldon which included six, 3-pointers. Guard Brandon Raley-Ross added a career-high 18 with Dominique Archie chipping in with 11.

Western Carolina returns to action this Saturday in Southern Conference play when it hosts UNC Greensboro in the first half of a Catamount basketball double-header. The special tip time between the Cats and Spartans is set for 2:00 pm in the Ramsey Center, which will be followed immediately by the Lady Catamounts hosting the league-leading Davidson Wildcats at approximately 4:00 pm.