Feb. 1, 2009

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina shot a season-best 61-percent (31-of-51) from the floor to overcome a season-low from the free throw line in a 12-point, 77-65, win over the Wofford Terriers Saturday night in Southern Conference action at the Ramsey Center.

Junior Brandon Giles led a trio of Catamounts in double figures with 16 points, with red-shirt freshman Harouna Mutombo scoring 14 with a game-high four steals. Junior Jake Robinson chipped in 12 points off the bench including three 3-pointers.

Freshman Greg Avery added nine points and five rebounds, while junior Brigham Waginger just missed double figures with eight points. Sophomore Blake Gallagher scored seven off the bench on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field.

WCU's victory - its second-straight and fifth-consecutive at home - kept the Catamounts atop the SoCon's North Division, percentage points ahead of Chattanooga (6-5, .545). It also sets up a showdown of first-place teams when Western visits South Division-leader, Davidson (11-0) on Monday at the Belk Arena.

The Catamounts improved to 11-9 overall, 6-4 in league play, while Wofford fell to 9-10 and 5-5 in SoCon play.

"We beat a good team tonight. That was key," said fourth-year Catamount head coach Larry Hunter. "For 40 minutes, it was one of our better performances for the year at both ends of the court. We shot over 60 percent; we out rebounded them; we didn't foul more than they did. We had some big stops when we needed them in the second half. Guys stepped up and made some plays offensively."

Hunter added, "We had a chance to grab ahold of our division a little bit because we're in a stretch of having five of seven games at home. We've won two of them. If we continue to do that, we'll be at the top of the standings. We have a great opportunity before us. We've just got to keep working hard."

Saturday's game only saw three ties and one lead change, with Western Carolina taking the lead for what would prove to be for good on a jumper by Giles at the 14:21 mark of the first half. An 8-0 spurt gave the Catamounts a nine-point lead midway through the opening stanza. But, the Terriers trimmed the margin down to a pair, 30-28, on a 3-pointer by Jason Dawson with 4:37 remaining before the break.

However, the Catamounts rattled off nine-unanswered points to stretch their lead to a first-half high of 11 before leading by nine, 43-34, at halftime.

In the second half, Wofford trimmed the Catamount lead down to seven on five separate occasions inside the opening five and a half minutes. Western stretched its lead to a game-high 15 with consecutive 3-pointers by Robinson and Giles and a runner by Mutombo at the 11:50 mark.

Wofford outscored the Catamounts 14-to-4 to pull to within five, 63-58, with seven and a half to play. But WCU was able to convert just enough charity tosses to hold off the Terriers and record the home victory.

Noah Dahlman led Wofford with 18 points off the bench before exiting the game early due to an injury. Junior Salters added 14 points for the Terriers, with Kevin Giltner finished with nine points.

Western Carolina returns to action on Monday night when it visits Davidson with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 pm. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can only be heard on Jackson County Radio, 680 AM WRGC in Sylva or 1590 AM WBHN in Bryson City. Streaming audio can also be found at www.WRGC.com.