Dec. 1, 2011

Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - Western Carolina put four players in double figures led by Harouna Mutombo with 18 and the second career double-double by Trey Sumler on Thursday night in its Southern Conference opener at Samford. But it wasn't until a late 3-pointer by Keaton Cole sparked a game-winning run that the Catamounts were able to celebrate the 75-71 road victory in the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford whittled away a seven-point WCU edge with three minutes remaining in regulation, closing to within one point, 66-65, on a Devin McNeil drive and lay-up. On the ensuing possession, Cole curled to the top of the key, took a pass from Sumler and drained a long 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Cole's triple sparked a 7-0 spurt by the Catamounts, and Sumler connected on all six free throw opportunities down the stretch to seal the victory.

"Tonight was a really good team win for us," said WCU head coach Larry Hunter during his opening comments. "I thought both teams executed well at both ends at times, but we really had some guys step-up tonight. We've got some competitors."

Mutombo, who during a second half stretch scored four of five Catamount baskets on lay-ups, overcame some early shooting woes to finish 8-of-13 including 5-of-7 in the second half alone. Sumler scored 11 of his 15 points from the free throw line, adding a career-high 11 rebounds including four on the offensive end and five assists. Cole knocked down four, 3-pointers in scoring 15 off the bench for WCU.

Sophomore Brandon Boggs rounded out the four double-digit scorers for WCU, recording the first nine points of the game for the Catamounts and finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Tawaski King, who was saddled with early foul trouble, scored six in just 13 minutes on the court.

Neither team was able to pull away in a game that was tied nine times and saw 11 lead changes. The Catamounts managed a game-high eight point lead while Samford led by as many as five, both coming in the second half.

Western Carolina (4-4, 1-0 SoCon) broke the eighth tie of the first half with five-straight points before a pair of Boggs' free throws with 1:40 showing before halftime handed the Catamounts their largest lead of the opening stanza at seven, 40-33. The Bulldogs scored the final five points of the half to cut WCU's lead at the break to two, 40-38.

Out of the halftime locker room, Samford slowed the pace and methodically chipped away, taking a five-point edge over WCU at both the 12 and nine minute marks. But, that is when the Catamounts' redshirt senior from Pickering, Ontario - Mutombo - took over.

Mutombo converted an old-fashioned, three-point play and followed it up with a steal he passed ahead for a transition dunk by Sumler to erase the deficit, tying the game at 53. He then scored eight of WCU's next 12 points ahead of Cole's crucial 3-pointer.

Post-man Drew Windler led Samford (1-4, 0-1) with a career-high 20 points while Devin McNeil finished with 19 points including a 3-pointer from half-court at the final buzzer. Will Cook added 12 points for the Bulldogs on 4-of-6 shooting, all from beyond the 3-point arc as Samford finished with nine made treys (9-of-28, 32%) on the night. The Catamounts held Bulldog leading scorer Jeffrey Merritt scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting.

All told, Samford's underclassmen combined to score 64 of the Bulldogs' 71 points.

Western Carolina returns home to host SoCon North Division foe, UNCG, in the second game of a Catamount hoops double-header this Saturday. The women's squad hosts Davidson beginning at 2:00 pm with the Catamount men battling the Spartans beginning at 4:30 pm in the Ramsey Center.

Post-Game Notes:
- Western Carolina won its second-straight game over Samford, improving to 7-2 all-time against the Bulldogs and evening its overall mark in Birmingham to 2-2;

- WCU also improved to 15-20 all-time in Southern Conference openers and 5-2 under seventh-year head coach Larry Hunter;

- Trey Sumler posted his second career double-double - both coming this season ... Sumler finished with a career-high 11 rebounds to go along with 15 points - 11 of which came from the free throw line;