Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Western Carolina men's basketball team opened up the 2015-16 season on the road at American Athletic Conference power Cincinnati. The Bearcats used a string first half performance to down the Catamounts 97-72. WCU found its rhythm in the second half but it was too late as Cincinnati held on for the victory.

Senior Mike Brown picked up where he left off last season as he led the Catamounts with 23 points, four rebounds, a career-high tying four assists, two steals and two blocks. Brown led the second half surge as he scored 19 of his 23 points in the second stanza. He was 7-of-13 in the period including knocking down three 3-pointers.

Freshman Elijah Pughsley returned to his home state of Ohio to make his collegiate debut and he did not disappoint his local fans as he scored 18 points including 15 in the second half. He knocked down five triples as he was 5-of-7 from downtown in just 15 minutes of action.

Senior Torrion Brummitt held down the post with nine points and four rebounds while freshman Marc Gosselin came off the bench to lead the Catamounts with six boards.

The Bearcats were led by Gary Clark who scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Octavius Ellis added 17 points and 10 boards as the Bearcats shot 61.0 percent from the field while holding WCU to just 37.1 percent shooting.

The Catamounts struggled to find their shot in the opening half hitting just eight of 35 attempts from the field. In the second half, WCU took the same amount of shots but knocked down 10 more to end the period shooting 51.4 percent.

The Bearcats doubled up WCU in the paint 54-26 but the Catamounts won the turnover battle 17-11.

WCU will now set its sights on UNC Asheville as the Bulldogs travel to Cullowhee for the Catamounts home opener on Sunday. WCU will take on UNCA at 4:30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Bulldogs fell to Tennessee on the road Friday night in a tight battle 82-78.