March 7, 2010

Box Score |   

Charlotte, N.C. - Top-seed Wofford used a strong interior game including 40 points in the paint and a 10-rebound edge, 40-to-30, to end Western Carolina's tournament run in the Southern Conference semifinals Sunday, 77-58, at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Terrier reserve Terry Martin recorded 17 points off the bench to lead Wofford to it first-ever championship game appearance.

The Terriers, which has won 12-straight games and 18 of its last 19 overall, advance to Monday's championship game where they will face the winner of Appalachian State vs. College of Charleston in Time Warner Cable Arena. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 at 9:00 pm, and the winner will secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Western Carolina finished the season at 22-11, the most wins since moving to the NCAA Division I level with its first 20-win season since 1971-72. The Catamounts will await word on possible post-season play.

Harouna Mutombo led Western Carolina with 18 points, one off his season-high, while Richie Gordon collected 13 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Giles finished with 11 points and five rebounds. However, the Catamounts were never able to establish offensive rhythm in the loss.

Martin was 6-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line to lead four Terriers in double figures in the scoring column. Jamar Diggs netted 12 points, while Noah Dahlman posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Tim Johnson finished with 10 points and six boards for Wofford (25-8), and Brad Loesing tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

All told, the Terriers' inside game of Martin, Johnson and Dahlman combined to shoot 14-for-22 from the field as Wofford scored 40 points in the paint.

On the other end, Wofford limited the Catamounts just 35 percent shooting from the field and held one of Western Carolina's leading point producers, Jake Robinson, scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting.

After Gordon opened the second half by making two free throws for WCU, Martin scored eight points in a 15-to-4 spurt that opened a 48-33 lead for the Terriers with 11:29 remaining. The Catamounts trimmed the margin to eight points on a Giles jumper with 5:49 remaining, but Diggs responded with four-straight points for the Terriers. A Junior Salters' runner off a Loesing assist on the fast break pushed the Wofford lead back to 62-48 with 3:35 to go.

Cameron Rundles, Diggs and Loesing combined to go 15-for-16 from the free throw line inside the last three minutes to ice the victory.

Leading 13-11, Wofford scored eight straight points to open a 21-12 cushion. Johnson scored four points during the run, and Diggs capped it with a pair of free throws with 9:15 left in the half. The Catamounts responded with a 10-4 spurt to trim the margin to 25-22 with 3:48 remaining in the period. Mutombo had four points in the run. With the Terriers ahead 31-27, Rundles hit a layup with 14 seconds left in the frame, and Wofford led 33-27 at the break.

Wofford went inside early and often and wound up scoring 24 points in the paint for the half. The Terriers shot 56.5 percent from the floor and only took five 3-pointers without making any. The Catamounts were 11-for-30 from the field (36.7 percent).