Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Sophomore Brandon Giles extended his current double-digit scoring streak to seven-straight games Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough as Chattanooga capitalized on an off shooting performance for the Catamounts and held a decisive rebounding advantage in an 85-55 win at the McKenzie Arena.

Giles was the only Catamount to reach double-figure scoring with a team-best 15 points, with frontcourt classmate Brigham Waginger scoring nine points off the bench on three 3-pointers. Senior Arnold Gore added eight points with senior Negus McKenna leading the Catamounts in rebounding with five.

The loss prevented Western (5-11, 1-5 SoCon) from garnering back-to-back victories for the first time this season while also dropping the Catamounts to 0-8 on the road this year. UTC captured its fourth-straight win, and eighth in its last nine games.

Western raced out of the gates, connecting on four of its first five shots including a pair of 3-pointers by Giles and freshman Michael Porrini to stake itself to an early seven-point edge, 10-3, inside the opening three minutes. However, Chattanooga managed to chip away at the Catamount advantage over the next seven minutes. UTC guard Kevin Bridgewaters forced the game's first tie, 19-19, and pushed the Mocs ahead at the 10:18 mark of the opening stanza by connecting on three-consecutive free throws.

Bridgewaters' charity tosses ignited a 19-3 Chattanooga run as the Mocs grabbed a 15-point lead, its largest of the first half. WCU sophomore Jake Robinson drained his lone 3-pointer of the contest inside the final minute to trim the deficit to 12, 39-27, at intermission.

Out of the halftime locker room, Chattanooga held the Catamounts scoreless for the first five minutes as a part of a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 22, 39-27, before senior Eric Wilson snapped the drought with a stick back in the paint after an offensive board to start a mini WCU run. Western scored nine-unanswered points to slice its deficit to 13 with 12:41 to play.

The Mocs would balloon their advantage back out to 17 before WCU scored six-straight points, capped by Robinson hitting one of two free throws to trim the margin to 11 with nine and a half to play. That was as close as the Catamounts would get, however, as the Mocs outscored Western 30-to-11 over the final nine minutes to grab the victory, 85-55.

During UTC's decisive run, the Catamounts were held without a bucket for a stretch of four minutes and 17 seconds, missing a total of nine shots.

Chattanooga (12-5, 7-0 SoCon) put four players in double figures, led by 18 points apiece from Stephen McDowell and Marcus Watts. Post-player Niccheaus Doaks recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards, while Khalil Hartwell added a dozen. Off the bench, Kevin Goffey finished with a game-high 14 rebounds, adding six points and five assists.

Western will enjoy a rare nine-day break between games, not returning to the hardwood until Mon., Jan. 21 when it hosts the Davidson Wildcats at the Ramsey Center at 7:03 pm.

Post-Game Notes:
* Senior Negus McKenna and sophomore Jake Robinson kept pace with each other on WCU's all-time 3-pointers made chart - both hit one trey on Saturday afternoon to stand tied for 10th with 101 made career 3-pointers, 30 shy of ninth-place David Donerlson (1989-90);

* WCU only committed a season-low six turnovers against the trap-happy pressure defense of Chattanooga ... However, the Catamounts posted their second-lowest shooting percentage of the season at 28.2-percent (20-of-71) and were only credited with a season-low two steals;

* Western was outrebounded by Chattanooga, 59-to-31, including 18-to-11 in offensive rebounds;

* Chattanooga tied NC State for most made free throws by a WCU opponent this season, connecting on 27-of-35 attempts.