Jan. 10, 2008

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Behind a near double-double performance off the bench for senior Negus McKenna - and on a night when sophomore Jake Robinson was the featured player - Western Carolina erased a 13-point halftime deficit to rally for a 73-65 victory Thursday night in Southern Conference action at the Ramsey Center.

Sophomore Brandon Giles led the three Catamounts in double figures with a game-high 21 as WCU garnered its first league win of the season, snapping a three-game slide. Giles connected on a career-high five 3-pointers - four in the second half - to help spark Western offensively.

McKenna also sparked the Catamounts, namely on the boards. The Montreal, Quebec, native tied his career-high with nine rebounds - the most he has ever recorded in a conference game - while scoring a season-high 16 points. And with WCU celebrating "Canton/Clyde Day," the area's native son, Robinson, chipped in 15 points including three 3-pointers and tied his career-high with three assists.

In addition, McKenna and sophomore Jake Robinson each eclipsed former Catamount standout Joe Stafford for 10th-place on Western's all-time 3-pointers made chart. McKenna made two treys to stand at 100 for his career while Robinson drained three to reach the century mark, both one ahead of Stafford (99, 1996-97).

Western (5-10, 1-4 SoCon) only mustered 28 points on 30-percent shooting - including a 2-for-18, 11-percent showing from behind the 3-point arc in the opening 20 minutes. Defensively in the first half, the Catamounts allowed Furman to shoot a sizzling 56-percent, including nailing 47-percent - or 9-of-19 - from long range.

After intermission, the Catamounts put the clamps down defensively, limiting the Paladins to six made field goals (6-of-23) for just 26-percent in the second half. At the other end, WCU shot 50-percent with nine 3-pointers to erase the halftime deficit and come away with the victory.

"We are a very young team. I thought both halves tonight were complete 180 degree opposites," said third-year head coach Larry Hunter. "The first half, for the first time in a long time, I thought we did not play with great energy and did not play very smart. The second half was just about the exact opposite. I thought we really got ourselves going defensively and offensively we shot a lot better. Brandon Giles and Jake Robinson both got it going for us. It was almost two different halves."

Furman (2-13, 1-5 SoCon) was led by freshman Justin Dehm with 18 points as the only Paladin to reach double digits. His classmate, Connor Nolte, added nine points off of three 3-pointers, while sophomore Tony Anderson added eight off the bench.

WCU freshman forward Blake Gallagher, who finished with seven points on the night, gave the Catamounts an early 2-0 lead before Furman took control. Tied at seven, the Paladins outscored Western 17-to-6 to take its first double-digit lead, 24-13, midway through the opening half. The lead would balloon to a game-high 14 points with six minutes to play before intermission and was 13, 41-28, at the break.

Out of the halftime locker room, Western Carolina was able to slice the lead to just four, 44-40, at the 16:06 mark with a 12-3 run. Furman broke the run with a triple by Anderson before the Catamount barrage from beyond the arc began. On the strength of four-straight, 3-pointers, Western erased the seven-point deficit to tie the game. Giles gave the Catamounts their first lead at 8:46 with a jumper in the lane.

All told, Western embarked on a 22-to-5 run - including five 3-pointers - over a seven minute span to surge ahead for good. The Catamounts would lead by as many as 12, 68-56, on McKenna's second trey and held on for the eight-point win with the lead never falling below five.

Western Carolina will try for its first road victory of the season as it visits SoCon North Division leading Chattanooga on Saturday at 3:00 pm in a game that will air live on SportSouth. WCU earned just its second win all-time at McKenzie Arena last winter with a 73-67 victory over the Mocs.

Saturday's game will also be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and will ONLY be heard on 680 AM WRGC in Sylva and online at www.WRGC.com. (WWCU-FM will carry the women's game at 4:00 pm).