Dec. 18, 2007

Box Score |   

Champaign, Ill. - Western Carolina shot a season-low 27-percent from the floor and was held to its lowest point output of the season Monday night in a 58-35 road loss at Big Ten Conference foe, Illinois, to wrap-up its two-game road swing through the Midwest.

WCU's 35 points marked its lowest single-game output since tallying 30 in an eight-point win at Guilford back in the 1963-64 season. Conversely, the Catamounts also held Illinois to an opponent season-low point total (58).

"I was pleased with the way we bounced back after Saturday night (at Indiana). We have a really young team, and we battled physically and played really hard," said Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter during the post-game press conference. "(Illinois) really got after us defensively and made things difficult. They are a very strong defensive team."

Sophomore guard Brandon Giles was the only Catamount to reach double-digit scoring on the night finishing with 13 points and six rebounds, while classmate Jake Robinson finished with six on a pair of 3-pointers. Freshman Michael Porrini, who was constantly hounded by larger defenders including U of I's 6-8 forward Brian Randle, had his eight-straight double-figure scoring performances snapped as the rookie from Massillon, Ohio, finished with five points and a game-high nine boards.

Defense reigned supreme through the opening 20 minutes as both teams put the proverbial clamps on the other's offense. WCU (3-7) was held to 17 points on 26-percent shooting, but also limited the Illini to 26 points to trail by just nine at the break. Western was able to manage one lead during the opening 20 minutes, surging ahead by three on a trey from sophomore Brigham Waginger for the 5-2 advantage at 17:45.

Out of the halftime locker room, Illinois was able to run its advantage to 13 before Robinson's back-to-back 3-pointers again pulled the Catamounts to within nine, 32-23. However, that was as close as Western would get the remainder of the game as Illinois outscored the Catamounts 23-to-8 over the next 13 minutes - including limiting WCU to one field goal over a six minute span - to stretch its lead to a game-high 24 points before winning by 23, 58-35.

Illinois (6-3) put two in double figures led by 13 points off the bench for the 7-foot center Mike Tisdale and 11 from starting center Shaun Pruitt who added a team-best eight rebounds. Randle, who battled foul trouble, finished with nine points while Calvin Brock finished with eight.

For the game, Illinois held a 10-rebound edge on the boards, 41-to-31, and made more free throws (7-of-14) than WCU attempted (5-of-7). The Catamounts did, however, block six Illini shots, one off their seasonal best.

Western will take time off to celebrate the Christmas holiday before returning to the hardwood on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 7:00 pm against Presbyterian. Like previous opponent, North Carolina Central, the Blue Hose are amidst a reclassification process this season moving from NCAA Division II to the Division I level.