Nov. 18, 2014

Final Stats

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - For the second-straight game, the Western Carolina men's basketball team fell victim to the free throw line. The University of Alabama hit 34-42 from the charity stripe in an 80-74 victory over the Catamounts as Western Carolina took just 22 trips to the free throw line and hit 15.

The Catamounts trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half but that would not be the story for Western Carolina as they battled back and took a six point lead with six minutes left in the game. A 13-2 run ended WCU's hopes as the Crimson Tide went on to win 80-74.

Senior James Sinclair poured in a career-high 31 points in the loss as he hit 10-18 from the field including 4-10 from three. He was also 7-9 at the charity stripe. He added five rebounds, three assists and three steals to the cause as well. Junior Rhett Harrelson, who returned to his home state, scored 13 points, dished out three assists and grabbed three steals in the loss.

WCU's final double-digit scorer was junior Mike Brown who added 12 points and five rebounds to the effort. Junior Torrion Brummitt led the Catamounts on the glass with 10 rebounds while scoring seven points. Freshman Tucker Thompson scored his first career points in the first half and went on to finish with eight points, a block and two rebounds.

Junior Justin Browning added six rebounds off the bench while freshmen Devin Peterson and Charlendez Brooks picked up the first points of their collegiate career.

The Crimson Tide out-rebounded the Catamounts 37-33 while both teams finished with 15 turnovers.

The opening five minutes of the game featured nine different lead changes as the teams went back and forth. With the score tied at 10, the Crimson Tide began a 9-0 run that lasted nearly five minutes. A free throw by Devin Peterson ended the run but the Tide answered with four-straight free throws to take their largest lead of the half, 23-11.

Down 12, the Catamounts made a run on the back of Harrelson as he hit back-to-back 3-pointers after a Tucker Thompson jumper to cut the deficit to four. The Crimson Tide would respond and eventually build their lead up to 11 points with just over two minutes to play. A short run by the Catamounts cut the lead to six but a last second tip-in gave the Crimson Tide a 41-33 halftime lead.

The Catamounts battled back in the second half as a 7-0 run that began at the 14:08 mark gave WCU its first lead since the 16:54 mark of the first half, 50-49. Both teams would trade baskets over the next several possessions but a 3-pointer by Sinclair gave the Catamounts their largest lead of the contest at 67-61 with 6:35 to play. The Crimson Tide answered with a 13-2 run to take a five-point advantage with less than three minutes to play. A free throw by Harrelson with a minute to play cut the lead to two but the Catamounts would be outscored 6-2 in the final minute of play giving Alabama the 80-74 lead.

Alabama was led by Jimmie Taylor who scored 15 points and 10 rebounds. Levi Randolph added 19 points including 11 at the charity stripe while Ricky Tarrant chipped in 18.

The Catamounts will return to action this Friday as they make their home debut with a 7 p.m. match-up against Hiwassee inside the Ramsey Center.