Dec. 8, 2009

Box Score

Peoria, Ill. - Senior Jake Robinson scored a game-high 21 points to help lead Western Carolina back from a 10-point second half deficit as the Catamounts rallied to upend the Bradley Braves, 75-67, Monday night in non-conference action from the Carver Arena.

Robinson was joined in double-figure scoring by classmate Brigham Waginger with 14 points, adding seven rebounds while also tying a career-best by dishing out seven assists and swiping three steals. Harouna Mutombo posted his third career double-double with 14 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds.

Keaton Cole scored nine points off the bench including burying a pair of 3-pointers while Richie Gordon scored eight points and recorded six rebounds in the winning effort.

"I am really, really happy for our guys; this has been a tremendous road trip for us," said fifth-year head coach Larry Hunter during post-game comments on the Catamount Sports Network. "I am really proud of our guys for the way they hung tough, made some big plays and got some big stops - this was a tremendous win for us."

The win for WCU was its seventh-straight, matching the program's longest consecutive win streak since the 1995-96 season when the Catamounts won the final four regular season games and three-straight in the Southern Conference tournament to win the title. The Catamounts also improved to 8-1 on the year, matching the best start since also beginning both the 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons with eight win through nine games.

Trialing by 10, 56-46, with 10 and a half minutes remaining in regulation, Western Carolina (8-1) embarked on a 23-to-4 run to erase the deficit and take a nine-point, 69-60, lead at the four minute mark. The Braves would not go away, however, scoring six-unanswered points to trim the gap to three, 69-66.

It was as close as Bradley would get, though, as Mutombo hit two free throws and Robinson canned 4-of-4 to stretch the advantage back to eight and provide the final tally, 75-67.

All told, WCU outscored Bradley by a count of 29-to-11 over the final 10 minutes of the game to pull out the victory.

WCU erased a nine-point first half deficit with a 14-to-4 run to end the opening stanza to take a one-point, 38-37, advantage into the halftime locker room.

The Braves (5-3) also put three players in double figures as Taylor Brown led the way with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Andrew Warren scored eight of his 14 points from the free throw line, with Sam Maniscalco chipping in 10 points in the loss.

Amidst a stretch with four-of-five games away from home, Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of the Ramsey Center on Thursday, Dec. 10 to host the Campbell Camels. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.

Post-Game Notes:
- Western Carolina won the first-ever meeting between the Catamounts and the Bradley Braves on the men's basketball hardwood;

- The win was WCU's seventh-straight triumph of the season, improving WCU to 8-1 on the year which is the best start to a season since the Catamounts became NCAA Division I back in 1976;

- Senior Jake Robinson, who ranks second on Western Carolina's career 3-pointers made chart, made four treys at Furman ... Robinson has 213 made three's for his career, chasing Anquell McCollum (245, 1993-96);

- Robinson also now has 994 career points, just SIX career points shy of 1,000 for his career;

- Senior guard Brigham Waginger made three steals on Monday giving him 217 for his career, just FOUR behind WCU Hall of Famer and all-time steals leader, Henry Logan (221 from 1965-68).