Final Stats |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team opened up the New Year with a 78-70 victory over The Citadel inside the Ramsey Center Saturday afternoon. The Catamounts used a tenacious defense to pull away from the Bulldogs as WCU forced 19 turnovers on the day including picking up eight steals. All five of the Catamount starters reached double-figures led by senior James Sinclair's 22 points. Sinclair also led the team with four assists.

Junior Rhett Harrelson added 15 points while knocking down a pair of triples. Junior Justin Browning also had 15 points and led the team with three steals. Browning was 5-7 from the field and 4-4 at the free throw line. Junior Torrion Brummitt had 14 points and tied for the team high in rebounds with five. Junior Mike Brown also had five rebounds, all of which came on the offensive end. He was the final double-digit scorer as well with 10 points.

The Catamounts used a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers to pull away early in the second half but the Bulldogs came back late to make it a contest.

The win is the third-straight for the Catamounts and improves their record to 6=8 overall and 1-1 in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs are now 5-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

After an opening jumper by Harrelson, the Bulldogs took the early advantage after WCU suffered back-to-back empty possessions. Harrelson came through with a 3-pointer at the 17:59 mark to cut The Citadel's lead to just one but a quick 4-0 run opened up five point lead for the Bulldogs. Brummitt converted a layup on the offensive end and then picked up a steal on the defensive end that led to a pair of Sinclair free throws which cut the lead back to one. WCU would eventually take its second lead of the game at the 14:30 mark as Harrelson connected on his second three of the contest to put the Catamounts ahead 15-14.

The Citadel answered with a three but WCU responded with six-straight points. The Catamounts held onto the lead till the 6:43 mark when a jumper put the Bulldogs up by two. WCU once again answered with six-straight points to retake the lead which it would not relinquish the rest of the game. The Bulldogs were able to cut WCU's lead to just one at the halftime break, 37-36.

The Catamounts opened the second half with a 14-2 run that featured eight points from Browning. He hit a layup to open the half, then converted an old-fashion three-point play before finishing the effort with a regular 3-pointer. WCU would lead by double-figures for most of the second half but a 7-0 run by the Bulldogs late in the period cut WCU's lead to just three with 34 seconds left. The Catamounts went 6-6 from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory, 78-70.

The Citadel was led by P.J. Horgan who had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Ashton Moore chipped in 17 points as well.

WCU will not have much time to rest as the Catamounts return to action Monday night (Jan. 5) inside the Ramsey Center. Western Carolina will face Furman at 7:30 pm. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women. The Western Carolina women's basketball team will take on Montreat at 5 pm.