Jan. 5, 2011

Box Score

Statesboro, Ga. - Trey Sumler led four Catamounts in double figures with a career-high 23 points as Western Carolina cruised to an 81-58 victory over Georgia Southern in Southern Conference action at the Hanner Field House.

Harouna Mutombo banked home a lay-up with five minutes remaining in the first half to hand WCU a double-digit lead it would never relinquish the remainder of the game.

Wednesday night's win not only snapped WCU's six-game seasonal winless drought, but also halted a six-game slide against Georgia Southern in Statesboro. The victory represented the Catamounts' first road victory over the Eagles since 1998.

"I thought we had a really good first half. Our guys came out with really good energy and I felt that our defense over the entire opening half was very, very solid," said WCU head coach Larry Hunter during post-game comments on the Catamount Sports Network. "I thought Trey Sumler had a terrific ball game tonight. He is running our ball club really well and is making big plays at both ends of the floor."

For Sumler, it was his fourth-straight, double-digit scoring outing. The Rocky Mount, N.C., native also dished out a career-best six assists and swiped three of WCU's 11 steals. Senior Richie Gordon finished with 18 points and five boards, while classmate Mike Williams scored a dozen off the bench with two steals and a pair of assists.

Freshman Brandon Boggs rounded out the four in double figures with 10 points and a team-best six rebounds.

GSU's Ben Drayton connected on three free throws after being fouled behind the arc to close the Eagles to within six, 25-19, with six minutes remaining before intermission. But the Catamounts embarked on a 19-to-5 run over a four-minute stretch and combined to outscore GSU 23-to-9 to close the half to lead by 20.

Out of the halftime locker room, Jelani Hewitt buried a 3-pointer to pull the Eagles back within 17, 50-33, but it would be as close as Georgia Southern would get as the Catamounts used a 14-to-2 spurt to pull out to a game-high 29-point, 64-35, advantage with 15:21 remaining in regulation. Western Carolina's lead would never dip below 22 points the remainder of the game.

Freshman Eric Ferguson led two Eagles in double figures with 21 points including nine from the free throw line while Drayton chipped in 11 points.

WCU shot a season-high 55-percent (31-of-56) from the field as it handed Georgia Southern its fifth loss in six games, forcing the Eagles into 21 turnovers.

Western Carolina will play its first home game since the end of November this Saturday as it hosts the Davidson Wildcats in the first game of a Catamount hoops twin bill. WCU will entertain the Wildcats, which fell at home to Appalachian State on Wednesday night, beginning at Noon on Saturday in a regionally-televised game on SportSouth.

WCU's women, winners over Davidson on Wednesday, 60-48, will host the College of Charleston in the second game of the double-header at 3:00 pm. Fans can get tickets for $5.00 on Saturday which includes admission to both games in the Ramsey Center.