Final Stats |   

Starkville, Miss. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team opened up the 2014-15 season at Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State Friday evening. The Catamounts trailed by just one at the half but 29 second half free throw attempts by the Bulldogs helped MSU pull away late and claim a 66-56 victory.

Four of WCU's five starters had five combined starts between them coming into the game. Freshman Tucker Thompson and junior Torrion Brummitt made their first collegiate starts while junior Rhett Harrelson made his second and junior Mike Brown achieved his fifth career start.

Proven veteran James Sinclair led the way for the Catamounts as he connected on 7-of-14 shots, including going 3-for-6 from 3-point range, to score a game-high 20 points. He added three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Harrelson turned in a career-best 14 points while draining three shots from beyond the arc. He also had three assists and a pair of steals. Western Carolina's only other double-digit scorer was Brown who turned in 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Catamounts (0-1) came out strong in the opening period, connecting on their first three 3-point attempts. After five minutes of action, WCU led 16-10. The Catamounts would hold onto the lead until the 9:55 mark of the first half when a 3-pointer by the Bulldogs (1-0) tied the game at 18. MSU would hit another three to go up 21-18 but Brummitt quickly answered with a jumper in the paint to cut the lead to one. The score would remain in the Bulldogs favor over the next eight minutes but a 3-pointer by Sinclair with 1:28 left in the half gave WCU a 28-27 lead. After a pair of Bulldog free throws, Brown hit a jumper to put the Catamounts back on top but a tip-in at the buzzer by MSU gave the Bulldogs a 31-30 halftime lead.

WCU was 11-27 (40.7%) from the field in the opening period including 5-10 (50.0%) from 3-point range. The Bulldogs connected on 11-21 (52.4%) from the field and were 3-5 (60.0%) from beyond the arc.

The second half saw the Bulldogs go to the free throw line 29 times while they connected 22 times. The Catamounts were only able to get four free throws in the period and made only two.

MSU opened the second half with a 14-5 run to open up a 10-point advantage. A 3-pointer by Sinclair ended the run but the Catamounts were unable to cut the Bulldogs lead to a single possession the rest of the game. Mississippi State led by as many as 12 points in the second half but closed the game with a 66-56 advantage.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass, outrebounding WCU 39-27 but it was the Catamounts who won the turnover battled 16-11.

Mississippi State was led by Gavin Ware who scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.

In addition to Thompson, freshmen Devin Peterson, Ashley Williams and Charlendez Brooks made their collegiate debuts. All four were unable to find their first basket but Thompson was able to collect his first career rebound and Brooks picked up his first career assist.

The Catamounts will next head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama on Monday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. The game will be carried nationally on the SEC Network.