Jan. 9, 2010

Box Score

Statesboro, Ga. - Willie Powers scored all of his game-high 19 points in the second half, including 10 from the free throw line, as Georgia Southern snapped a nine-game losing streak with an 81-76 upset of Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference play at the Hanner Fieldhouse.

Powers, who was held scoreless in the opening 20 minutes, took a backseat to backcourt mate Antonio Hanson in the first half as the senior drained six 3-pointers to account for all of his game-total of 18 points in helping the Eagles (4-13, 1-3 SoCon) score 16-straight points and claim a game-high, 17-point lead.

The Catamounts closed the first half on a 15-to-4 run to claw within six, 39-33, at intermission.

In the second half, Western Carolina (12-3, 2-1 SoCon) was unable to reclaim the lead before GSU scored six of the game's final seven points for the victory.

WCU senior Kendall Russell led four Catamounts in double figures with a career-high 18 points. The Chicago, Ill., native added a game-high eight rebounds while blocking three shots. Classmate Brandon Giles finished with 13 points and five boards, while a third senior, Jake Robinson, chipped in 12 and junior Mike Williams scored 10 points.

Senior Brigham Waginger finished with eight points, five assists and three steals for WCU.

In addition to Powers and Hanson, Rory Spencer added 18 points for the Eagles which shot an opponent-best 56.3-percent (9-of-16) from behind the 3-point arc. Powers dished out seven assists, but also committed eight turnovers in the game.

Trailing by eight late, Western Carolina closed to within one point three times inside the final three minutes, including 77-76 with 54 seconds remaining in the game. However, the Eagles closed out the contest with a 5-0 run including four points by Powers in that stretch.

Western Carolina opens back-to-back home games on SoCon North Division play by hosting UNC Greensboro on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Center. The Spartans are coming off a 10-point, 88-78, home win over Furman on Saturday that snapped an eight-game losing skid. WCU's home stand will conclude with Elon visiting Cullowhee on Saturday, Jan. 16 for a 7:00 pm tip-off.

Post-Game Notes:
- Western Carolina lost its sixth-straight game in Statesboro, Ga., and dropped to 3-10 all-time at Hanner Fieldhouse following Saturday afternoon's defeat;

- Kendall Russell set a career-high in the road loss at Georgia Southern ... His previous career-best was 12 points accomplished twice, most recently in the 2009-10 season opener against St. Catharine College;

- The two teams combined for 56 fouls (29 by GSU, 26 by WCU) and 54 turnovers (30 by GSU, 24 by WCU) on Saturday;

>- Western Carolina committed a season-high 24 turnovers in the road loss at GSU while the Eagle's 30 giveaways matched an opponent season-high equaling the turnovers by Gardner-Webb (11/28/09) ... Georgia Southern also matched an opponent-high with nine made 3-pointers (joining Louisville) while shooting 56-percent from beyond the arc, the most allowed by a Catamount team this season ... WCU entered the game leading the SoCon in 3-point field goal percentage defense, limiting foes to 24.5-percent shooting from long range;

- Senior forward Jake Robinson made two 3-pointers on Saturday to give him 235 for his career, just 10 shy of tying former Catamount standout - and current assistant coach - Anquell McCollum for the school's career record ... McCollum made 245 3-pointers from 1993-96;