Final Stats

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker at the College of Charleston Friday afternoon in a game in which the Catamounts led for nearly 35 of the 40 minutes. A late push by the Cougars proved to be the difference as CofC took the contest 57-56 at home. Senior Torrion Brummitt led the way for the Catamounts with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

The Catamounts led for 34:44 of the game but a free throw by the Cougars with 11 seconds left gave CofC the one point advantage it needed. WCU had a chance with five seconds to play but Brummitt was unable to get off a shot as a very physical defense by the Cougars caused him to lose the ball underneath the basket and no call was made.

An 11-0 run by the Cougars with just under eight minutes to play erased a nine-point Catamount lead and created the late game drama that ensued. Back-to-back 3-pointers by CofC's Marquise Pointer gave the College a 54-53 lead with 1:17 to play. Senior Mike Brown answered for the Catamounts with a layup to retake the lead for WCU but Brown fouled out on the very next Cougar possession as CofC retook the lead at 56-55.

Brummitt was fouled on WCU's next possession and hit one of two free throws to tie the game with 24 seconds remaining. After what looked like a clean block by senior Justin Browning, the officials called a foul and Browning was the second Catamount to leave the game with five fouls as the Cougars connected on one of two free throws to take a 57-56 lead with 11 ticks on the clock.

The Catamounts tried a quick break on the ensuing in bound but a 3-pointer by Deriece Parks was blocked in the corner giving WCU the ball underneath their hoop with five seconds remaining. WCU fed the ball to Brummitt underneath who looked for a shot and was sent to the ground by the Cougar defense as the ball trickled out to Parks who launched a desperation shot the hit the side of the backboard as time expired.

Brown finished the game with 13 points and five rebounds to go along with a pair of assists and two steals. Browning had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds while senior Rhett Harrelson added seven points, all of which came in the first half.

The first half started with a great defensive stop by the Catamounts as they forced the Cougars into a shot clock violation. After an empty possession on the other end, the Cougars took their first and only lead of the first half on a basket at 18:52. The Catamounts would answer with seven straight points including five from Browning to take a 7-2 lead. WCU would not relinquish the lead in the first half as Brummitt, Browning and Harrelson led the way with seven points each. WCU took a 31-29 lead into the locker room.

The Catamounts shot 45.5 percent (10-22) from the field including 55.6 percent (5-9) from 3-point range in the opening half. The Cougars on the other hand shot just 33.3 percent (10-30) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-11) from 3-point range.

The tides changed in the second half as the Catamounts were unable to sink a 3-pointer and shot just 33.3 percent (6-18) from the field including 0-7 from downtown. The Cougars continued to struggle also shooting 33.3 percent (9-27) from the field but hit two crucial 3-pointers late in the game.

The Catamounts will return to action on Monday, Nov. 30 as they close out the month at SEC member South Carolina. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network with a tip-off time of 7 pm.