Dec. 27, 2007

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Three Catamounts scored in double-figures led by a game-high 17 from sophomore Brandon Giles and the second-career, double-double from freshman Blake Gallagher as Western Carolina held off the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 60-57, Thursday night at the Ramsey Center.

The Blue Hose took its final one-point lead, 55-54, with 3:21 showing on the game clock before Giles handed the Catamounts back the advantage for good with a jumper 17 seconds later, 56-55. Leading by just one, 58-57, with 14 seconds remaining, WCU sophomore Jake Robinson drained a pair of free throws for two of his 11 points to extend the lead to three. On the ensuing possession, PC's Pat Kiscaden missed a would-be game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to provide the final tally.

The see-saw affair featured nine lead changes and a tied score on seven separate occasions before WCU was able to pull away down the stretch with defense.

"I knew we were in for a battle," said WCU head coach Larry Hunter during his post-game interview on the Catamount Sports Network. "It was not a pretty game. We tried to speed it up with our press (defense) and they tried to slow it down with their half court sets. I felt that they were more physical and won some of the toughness battles - and that disappointed me tonight. But, we did enough good things to get the win, including several defensive stops at the end of the game when we need them."

Giles' 17 points came on 7-of-13 shooting, while Gallagher scored a career-best 12 points and pulled down a dozen rebounds for the double-tilt, tying his career-high in boards. Freshman Camden Miller added seven points off the bench for Western which claimed its seventh-straight over Presbyterian in the overall series.

Sophomore Brigham Waginger ran the point in place of freshman guard Michael Porrini, who did not play due to a violation of team rules, finished with three points and six rebounds while dishing out five assists and swiping a season-high five steals.

After a sluggish start, Western (4-7) used a 10-0 spurt over a six minute span, capped by a Miller steal and Giles dunk, to erase a three-point deficit and claim a 12-5 advantage at the 13:15 mark of the first half. The Catamounts would stretch the advantage to a game-high eight at the 7:39 mark before Presbyterian mounted a rally of its own. The Blue Hose outscored WCU 19-to-8 over the final 7:39 to take a three-point, 27-24, lead into the halftime locker room.

Out of intermission, the two teams swapped the lead back-and-forth five times, and were tied an additional five times setting up the frantic finish. The Catamounts appeared to seize control around the six minute mark as Miller drained a pair of free throws to give Western a six point, 51-45, edge. However, Presbyterian's Pierre Miller and Josh Johnson hit consecutive 3-pointers to keep the Blue Hose close.

With just under three and a half to play, Presbyterian took its final lead on a Al'lonzo Coleman lay-up setting up WCU from the free throw line where Giles and Robinson connected on all four attempts to seal the win.

All told, over the final six and a half minutes, Giles and freshman Camden Miller combined for 10 of Western's final 12 points - with Robinson's free throws adding the difference - to stave off the Blue Hose.

Presbyterian (1-15), which is currently amidst a reclassification season from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I, also put three players in double-figures. Miller finished with a team-high 16 points, including five 3-pointers. Coleman and Johnson each tallied 10 points, with Coleman leading the Blue Hose with eight rebounds.

Western Carolina hits the road this Saturday, Dec. 29 for the first of three-straight away from the Ramsey Center as it travels to North Carolina State. Tip-off against the No. 37 Wolfpack at the RBC Center in Raleigh is set for 2:30 pm on Saturday afternoon.