Jan. 30, 2012

Box Score |   

Spartanburg, S.C. - Wofford managed nearly 60-percent shooting from the field while frustrating the Catamounts on the defensive end en route to claiming is sixth-straight victory, upending Western Carolina, 82-56, in Southern Conference action Monday night at the Benjamin Johnson Arena. Both teams were playing their third game in five days

The loss relegated the Catamounts to their fourth-straight defeat representing the longest of the season for WCU and the longest drought since dropping six-straight a year ago. However, the 2010-11 Catamounts responded by winning four straight and closed the season with 14 victories in its final 19 games.

Four Catamounts scored in double figures for WCU led by 13 from redshirt sophomore Trey Sumler. The Rocky Mount, N.C., native finished 4-of-9 from the floor and pulled down a team-leading six rebounds to go along with a pair of steals. Sophomore Tawaski King posted his third-straight, double-digit scoring effort with 12 points, adding four boards.

Guards Keaton Cole and Brandon Boggs both scored 10 to round out WCU's double-figure scorers. Cole recorded two 3-pointers in the losing effort - the only two long-range shots the Catamounts would get, finishing 2-of-14 from beyond the arc. Preston Ross chipped in seven points.

Drew Crowell led four Terriers in double figures with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting including one of the Terriers' 10 made 3-pointers. Freshman Karl Cochran finished with 16 points and four assists while Brad Loesing recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Kevin Giltner rounded out Wofford's double-digit scorers with 13 points with three 3-pointers.

Slow out of the opening gates, Western Carolina (9-14, 3-7 SoCon) found itself down seven at the 15:17 mark after a Crowell lay-up. The Catamounts missed their first seven shots from the floor and committed four turnovers before a Sumler lay-up gave WCU its first bucket of the game. WCU was able to twice tie the game at both eight and 10 midway through the opening half despite struggling to find points.

With the Catamounts back within a bucket, 16-14, following a King jumper, Wofford seized control of the game by closing the half on a 15-to-5 run to take a 12-point, 31-19, lead into intermission.

WCU was limited to 19 points on eight made field goals in the first half with the final basket coming on a Cole lay-up inside of the final 20 seconds.

The Catamounts were able to claw within eight points of the Terriers in the opening minutes of the second half on two buckets from Ross and a lay-up by King. However, consecutive 3-pointers by Cochran and Loesing on consecutive possessions and both coming late in the shot clock pushed the margin back to double figures where it would remain. Wofford took its first 20-point lead in the game on the strength of a 17-to-7 push midway through the half and cruised to its fourth-straight home win over WCU.

Wofford (15-8, 8-3 SoCon) converted 17 Catamount turnovers into 20 points and held a 38-to-22 advantage in points in the paint, as the Terriers avenged a 10-point defeat in Cullowhee earlier this season.

Western Carolina looks to halt the four-game slide on Thursday night as it hosts SoCon North Division rival, Chattanooga, at 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Center. Thursday is the annual "White Out" game with all fans encouraged to wear white to the game which will be televised on ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com.

Prior to Thursday's game, WCU Football and the Catamount Club are hosting a National Signing Day reception in the first floor Hospitality Room. First-year head coach Mark Speir and his coaching staff will be on hand to discuss the 2012 incoming class for Catamount Football. The event gets underway at 5:30 pm ahead of the 7:00 pm tip-off in the main arena.