Final Stats |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Despite trailing by nine points with just under seven minutes to play in the first half, the Western Carolina men's basketball team was able to upend Southern Conference leader Mercer University, 60-52, Thursday night inside the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts made a late run in the first half and carried the momentum into the second half where they outscored the Bears 37-25.

The loss is just the second for Mercer in SoCon play this season as they fall to 11-10 overall and 6-2 in conference action. The Catamounts are now 9-11 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

Senior James Sinclair, who was honored for passing the 1,000 career points mark prior to the game, led the Catamounts with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He also dished out five assists without committing a single turnover. Junior Mike Brown added 12 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. Junior Rhett Harrelson knocked down three 3-pointers in the game including two huge baskets in the second half as he finished with 11 points and three assists.

Junior Torrion Brummitt shared the team lead in rebounds with seven while also scoring seven points and swatting a pair of shots. Freshman Tucker Thompson, making his sixth start of the season, finished with seven points and five rebounds. Senior Kenneth Hall played 15 minutes off the bench while picking up five rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as they combined to shoot just 31.9 percent from the field. The Catamounts found their stroke in the second half knocking down 12 of 22 shots while the Bears continued to struggle hitting just nine of 30.

Mercer opened the scoring with a 3-pointer a minute into the game after WCU came up empty on two possessions. The scoring was slow as the Bears held a 12-9 advantage after eight minutes of play. After a 6-0 run by the Bears the Catamounts finally hit double-digits with 6:26 left in the first half as a Sinclair 3-pointer cut the Mercer lead to six. Four minutes later with the Catamounts trailing 27-19, Sinclair and Brummitt hit back-to-back shots to cut the deficit to just four. Both teams would go scoreless over the final 1:27 of the first half as the Bears carried a 27-23 lead into the locker room.

A Sinclair dunk opened the second half scoring as the Bears held a two-point lead. After a free throw and a layup, Mercer led 30-25 but the Catamounts responded with 10-1 that featured five points from Sinclair. After Mercer came back to tie the game at 35, the Catamounts responded with 10-2 run that began with back-to-back 3-pointers from Harrelson. From that point on the Catamounts would not trail again. The lead would eventually balloon to 11 points with 2:31 to play as Thompson hit a turnaround layup. WCU hit three free throws and a pair of baskets down the stretch as the Catamounts hung on to win, 60-52.

The Bears were led by Darious Moten who had 18 points and five rebounds.

The Catamounts will now hit the road for three-straight games starting on Saturday at Samford. The tip is scheduled for 6 pm central/7 pm eastern.