Feb. 2, 2009

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) -- Stephen Curry scored 26 points and Davidson extended its Southern Conference winning streak by beating Western Carolina 89-65 on Monday night at the Belk Arena.

Andrew Lovedale, Brendan McKillop and Bryant Barr had 14 points each and Max Paulhus Gosselin added 10 for the Wildcats (19-3, 12-0), who have now won 42 consecutive regular-season league games.

Harouna Mutombo scored 15 points and Brandon Giles had 11 -- nine of which came in the second half -- for the Catamounts (11-10, 6-5), which dropped their fifth-straight road game.

Juniors Adrian Gailliard and Jake Robinson each finished with eight points apiece off the bench for WCU.

Davidson built itself an early nine-point lead, 11-2, before the Catamounts closed to within four with five-straight points, including a 3-pointer by freshman Greg Avery and jumper by Gailliard. However, Curry took over with 10-straight points to lead the Wildcats to a 10-point cushion and a double-digit advantage they would hold throughout.

WCU trailed Davidson by 18 at the break, 49-31.

Out of the halftime locker room, Davidson stretched its lead to 20, holding the Catamounts scoreless over the opening 5:40 of the frame before eventually pulling ahead by a game-high 38, 86-48, with 6:34 to play in the game. Western managed to outscore the Wildcats 17-to-3 over the final six minutes with freshman walk-on Christian Tonkins providing the final bucket on his first career 3-pointer.

The Catamounts return home for back-to-back home games beginning Thursday night as they host the College of Charleston at 7:00 pm. WCU will entertain The Citadel on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the night cap of a Catamount basketball double-header. Western will also celebrate its basketball alumni day on Saturday, with a special recognition of the 1958-59 WCU men's basketball team at halftime of the men's game.