Feb. 2, 2008

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Down by four inside the final minute Saturday night, Western Carolina sophomore Brandon Giles drained his fourth 3-pointer of the contest to pull the Catamounts to within a point of its arch-rival, Appalachian State. However, the Mountaineers connected on 5-of-6 free throw attempts inside the final 30 seconds to hold off the feisty Catamounts, 69-64, in front of the largest crowd in the Ramsey Center this season.

"I thought it was a really good college basketball game," said WCU head coach Larry Hunter during post-game interviews. "It was a rivalry game and I thought both teams really went at each other with a lot of intensity. Both teams at times played great defense, and had some good offensive execution. That ballgame could have gone either way."

Western (6-15, 2-9 SoCon) put three players in double figures led by the 12th-straight double-digit outing from Giles. The Auburndale, Fla., native finished with a game-high 19 points including four 3-pointers to continue his streak of having reached double figures in each SoCon game this season. Senior Arnold Gore scored all 12 of his points in the first half, including a career-high tying three 3-pointers, with sophomore Jake Robinson also tallying a dozen points on 5-of-8 shooting with one trey.

Senior Eric Wilson scored a season-high seven points and dished out three assists, while freshman Richie Gordon posted a solid all-around performance. The Atlanta, Ga., native tied his personal conference-game highs for points with five, set a SoCon-high for rebounds (5) and a swiped a career-best three steals in a career-high 26 minutes of court time.

Western continued its recent trend of hot starts, racing out of the gates to grab an early nine-point advantage, 12-3, inside the game's first three minutes. But the Mountaineers, utilizing three, 3-pointers, used a 13-to-4 run to knot the game at 16 at the 12:57 mark, and a fourth trey from freshman Donald Sims gave the Apps their first lead, 19-18. Appalachian State took its largest lead of the opening half at the 7:04 mark, pulling out to a six-point advantage, 26-20.

All told, ASU used a 23-to-8 surge to erase WCU's nine-point lead and build its six-point advantage.

Yet, over the next five minutes, the Catamounts compiled a run of their own, outscoring their mountain-rivals 13-to-3 to push back in front, 33-29, with two and a half to play before intermission. ASU's Eduardo Bermudez drained a jumper with time dwindling in the opening 20 minutes to knot the score at 40 at halftime.

Western used a jumper by Robinson and a second 3-pointer from sophomore Brigham Waginger to pull out to its largest lead of the see-saw second half, 53-48, midway through the final stanza. But Appalachian State was able to claw back in from the free throw line, scoring five of its next seven points from the charity stripe.

Tied at 57, Wilson gave Western a three-point advantage with a triple from the left wing with 4:22 to play. The lead stood until Sims drew contact on an apparent 3-point attempt from the left corner in front of the ASU bench and drained all three subsequent free throws. The Apps - which have won nine of their last 10 games and eight-straight over the Catamounts - took the lead for good at the 1:54 mark on a jumper by sophomore guard Kellen Brand that broke the game's ninth tie at 60 setting up the finish.

Appalachian scored eight of its final 11 points from the free throw line.

The Mountaineers (14-7, 9-3 SoCon) put five players in double figures with senior Donte Minter and Sims each scoring 13 in the win. Bermudez finished with 11 with Brand and Ryann Abraham each tallying 10 points.

Western Carolina concludes its three-game home stand this Monday, Feb. 4 as it hosts the Chattanooga Mocs in the night cap of a Catamount basketball double-header. The Lady Catamounts entertain arch-rival Appalachian State at 5:00 pm, with the men's game to follow 30 minutes after the men's contest.

Post-game Notes:
* Senior Negus McKenna made his only 3-point field goal attempt on Saturday night ... He has connected on 16 of his last 21 attempts, or 76-percent from long range in the past four games;

* Sophomore Brigham Waginger added to his team and SoCon-leading steals tally with three on Saturday night;

* Western altered its lineup for the first time in the past four games ... freshman Richie Gordon made his first career start in place of classmate Blake Gallagher;

* Western and Appalachian were tied at 40 on Saturday night ... in its last four ball games, WCU has not trailed at intermission - led twice (at Wofford, vs. GSU) and twice have been tied (vs. Elon and vs. ASU);

* Appalachian State sophomore guard Kellen Brand was released following observation at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C., Saturday evening. After being released, he traveled back to Boone with the team ... Brand was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons after collapsing on the floor with 1:23 left in Saturday's game. Moments earlier Brand took a hard hit on a WCU screen at mid-court. He was held at the hospital for a little more than an hour to undergo tests and evaluation, was diagnosed with a mild concussion and cleared to travel back with the team. (ASU Sports Information)