Feb. 5, 2011

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Five players scored in double figures led by 19 points from redshirt freshman Trey Sumler and a double-double effort by Harouna Mutombo as Western Carolina held off UNC Greensboro, 83-73, Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference action in the Ramsey Center.

Sumler, who dished out six of WCU's 18 assists, set a career-high with 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc to pace the Catamounts, while true freshman Brandon Boggs scored 17 with seven rebounds as WCU claimed its ninth-straight home victory.

Western Carolina (11-13, 7-5 SoCon) used a 15-to-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Mike Williams early in the second half to take a three-point game and stretch it to a game-high 16 points, 60-44, with 14:12 remaining. However, sparked by a run of 10-straight points by Brandon Evans, UNCG responded with a 15-to-0 run to close the gap to just one, 60-59, with 8:49 remaining in regulation.

All told, Evans scored 12 of the 15 points during the spurt for the Spartans while WCU was held off the scoreboard completely for six and a half minutes before a pair of Mutombo free throws halted the drought. The Catamounts went seven and a half minutes between field goals until Sumler connected for three from the top of the key to push the Catamount edge back to six, 65-59.

WCU was able to balloon the advantage back to double-figures on a pair of Richie Gordon free throws at the 3:06 mark, with Gordon converting an inbounds pass into a streaking slam dunk thirty seconds later to keep it a double-digit game. Boggs likewise added a highlight reel dunk in the closing moments as the Catamounts were able to maintain the edge through the final horn.

Williams finished with 14 points including four 3-pointers with five assists and a pair of steals in the winning effort. His classmate Gordon scored 12 with a career-high tying four steals with Mutombo posting his fourth career double-double with a dozen points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

Keaton Cole added a pair of first half 3-pointers off the bench for WCU, finishing with six points.

Western Carolina, which led start-to-finish, held a 10-point lead twice in the first half on Saturday afternoon against the Spartans. With the margin nine, 34-25, with 4:36 to play in the opening 20 minutes, UNCG (4-18, 4-8 SoCon) twice pulled to within one point on slam dunks - one by Trevis Simpson and the second by Aaron Brackett. However, both times, the Catamounts were able to respond with scoring spurts, using buckets by Mutombo and a buzzer-beating jumper by Boggs at the end of the first half to lead 40-35 at halftime.

Evans led four Spartans in double figures with a game-high 21 points including 12-of-13 from the free throw line. Brackett posted a double-double with 14 points - 12 of which came in the first half - and 10 rebounds. Simpson finished with a dozen points while Brian Cole chipped in 10 including two 3-pointers.

Western Carolina won the battle on the boards, 37-33, including a 12-to-6 edge in offensive rebounds against one of the other strong offensive rebounding teams in the SoCon. The Spartans benefited from a 30-to-13 free throw attempt edge, making 26 attempts (86.7%) to WCU's 10 made tosses for 76.9%.

The Catamounts remain at home in SoCon North Division action this Thursday, Feb. 10 as they welcome divisional leader, Chattanooga, to the Ramsey Center for "Beach Night." All fans are encouraged to dress in their best beach attire for a fun-filled evening.

UTC claimed a two-point victory over WCU, 67-65, back on Dec. 4 in the McKenzie Arena. WCU shot just 15-percent from the floor in the first half, but only trailed by as many as nine before rallying in the second half to take a four-point lead early in the final 20 minutes. The Catamounts and Mocs have split the seasonal series each of the past four years, winning on their respective home courts.

Post-Game Notes:
- Western Carolina scored its fifth-straight victory over UNC Greensboro representing the longest consecutive win streak for either squad in the head-to-head series ... the previous long was three for both squads which WCU extended a season ago before stretching to five this year ... the Catamounts improved to 14-4 all-time against UNCG in Cullowhee;

- Western Carolina's 83 points mark the most against a NCAA Division I opponent this year, while the 11 made 3-pointers were also a season-high;

- Several Catamounts recorded or tied career-high numbers on Saturday in the home win over UNCG: Trey Sumler made a career-best five 3-pointers while Mike Williams matched a career-best with four made 3's; Sumler also tied a career-high with eight rebounds while Harouna Mutombo set a benchmark with 12 rebounds; Brandon Boggs matched a career-high with seven made field goals in a career-long 36 minutes of court time;

- Western Carolina remained perfect at home this season, improving to 7-0 in the Ramsey Center while claiming its ninth-straight home victory dating back to last season ... All told, the Catamounts have won 34 of their last 39 home games including 23 of the last 26 Southern Conference games in Cullowhee ... Over the past three seasons, WCU is 32-4 (.889) at home ... During head coach Larry Hunter's tenure, the Catamounts are 55-19 (.743) at home over the past six years;