Jan. 10, 2009

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Three Catamounts scored in double-digits as Western Carolina extended its current winning streak to three with a 74-67 win over the Elon Phoenix Saturday night in Southern Conference action at the Ramsey Center.

Junior Brigham Waginger drained a 3-pointer as time expired in the first half to give the Catamounts the lead for good as Western opens conference play at 3-0 for just the third-time in school history, and the first-time since 1994-95.

The win, coupled with UNC Greensboro's overtime win on the road at Appalachian State, moves the Catamounts into sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference's North Division.

Red-shirt freshman Harouna Mutombo led the Catamounts with 17 points, including seven from the free throw line, and seven rebounds. Junior Brandon Giles battled early foul trouble to score 14, with classmate Jake Robinson finishing with 11 on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Waginger added eight points and a team-best eight rebounds while also dishing out a game-high five assists, with freshman Greg Avery also scoring eight in the win.

The opening 20 minutes endured seven ties with both teams able to open up slim, five-point advantages. Western went up, 15-10, at the 11 minute mark of the first half with the Phoenix erasing the deficit and claiming a five-point edge of its own with four and a half to play before intermission. The Catamounts then outscored Elon, 15-to-7, to close the half with Waginger's triple giving WCU a three-point, 38-35, lead at the break.

Out of the halftime locker room, consecutive buckets by Blake Gallagher on a slam dunk and a lay-up by Giles gave WCU a seven-point lead, 42-35. Following a basket by Ola Atoyebi which trimmed the deficit back to two, the Catamount lead would not dip below seven the remainder of the half.

Western would stretch its lead to a game-high on four separate occasions including 72-59 on a pair of Waginger free throws with just over a minute to play. The Phoenix was able to trim the margin to seven in the closing seconds to provide the final margin, 74-67.

Elon put four in double figures led by 15 from Brett James off the bench. Josh Bonney added 13, with Ola Atoyebi scoring 11 before fouling out. Sophomore guard Chris Long chipped in 10 points for the Phoenix in the losing effort.

Western Carolina hits the road for back-to-back road games beginning Thursday night at SoCon newcomer Samford. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm CT / 8:00 pm ET.