Jan. 21, 2008

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Brandon Giles posted his eighth-consecutive double-digit scoring outing in Southern Conference play Monday night to lead three Catamounts in double figures in an 82-67 home loss to the South Division-leading Davidson Wildcats. Giles finished with a team-best 23 points while playing career-high 36 minutes.

The loss snapped Western's three-game home winning streak and relegated the Catamounts to 5-12 overall, 1-6 in league play. It was Davidson's seventh consecutive victory and 19th-straight regular season league triumph as the Wildcats improved to 11-6 overall and 9-0 in the SoCon.

Western Carolina freshman Blake Gallagher had one of his best overall performances of his rookie season despite being saddled with foul trouble. The Monroe, N.C., native finished with a career-high tying 12 points and a game-high tying eight rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Sophomore Jake Robinson chipped in a dozen points off the bench, all coming from beyond the 3-point arc on 4-of-8 shooting.

Rounding out Western's scoring was freshman Michael Porrini, who just missed double figures with nine points, two assists and a pair of steals, with seniors Arnold Gore and Negus McKenna finishing with seven and four points, respectively.

Davidson (11-6, 9-0 SoCon) capitalized on a 10-0 spurt inside the final three minutes of the first half to take a 10-point advantage and balloon it to 20 to break open an otherwise tightly contested opening session. Using every second of the shot clock on nearly every possession, Western slowed the game with the two teams not combining for 20 points until midway through the frame.

Trailing by just one, 11-10, at the 10:32 mark, Western did not score for a six-minute stretch until Gore found Gallagher alone in the paint for two points. During the same stretch, though, the Catamount defense held Davidson in check, only allowing the Wildcats nine points which staked them to a 10-point edge, 20-10. Leading by the same margin, 26-16, Davidson exploded for the 10-unaswered points inside the final three minutes to go ahead 20, leading by 19 at intermission, 42-23.

All told, Davidson scored 16 points inside the final 2:30 after having been limited to just 26 through the first 17:30.

Out of the halftime locker room, Davidson used a 15-4 run in the opening minutes of the second half to push its advantage to 30, 57-27. Curry capped the stretch with a conventional 3-point play after he was fouled converting a lay-up on a fast break to give Davidson its largest of the game 4:37 into the frame. Western Carolina would not get closer than 15 points for the rest of the game, pulling to within 16 inside the final minute on a 3-pointer by Gore before Curry answered to provide the final tally.

The Wildcats put two in double figures led by 29 points from Curry on 10-for-19 shooting and added seven rebounds, four assists and five steals. Jason Richards finished with 18 points on a 6-for-9 night and recorded eight assists and four boards. Bryant Barr netted nine points off the bench for Davidson.

Western Carolina remains at home in conference play, hosting the Elon Phoenix this Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:03 pm in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts will look to avenge a 59-49 setback handed to them by the Phoenix back on Nov. 27 in the earliest played league-opener in school history.

Post-Game Notes:
* For just the second time this season, Western Carolina shot more free throws than did its opponent ... Western converted 13 of its 18 attempts for 72.2-percent, while Davidson only shot a dozen, making 10 (83.3%) ... Also, for just the third-time this season, Western was whistled for an equal amount or fewer team fouls than its opponent - and just the second time it had fewer team fouls (vs. Bowling Green, 20 for BGSU and 19 for WCU);

* WCU sophomore Brandon Giles has scored in double-figures in each Southern Conference game this season (8) ... he tallied his fourth 20-point-plus scoring outing of his career, each of which has come this season;

* At halftime, WCU senior Alex Crutchfield won $10,000 in a shooting contest ... the Greensboro, N.C., native made a lay-up, free throw, 3-pointer and shot from half court inside of 25 seconds to win the prize.