Final Stats |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Samford on Thursday, the Western Carolina men's basketball team had little time to dwell on one that got away as they faced the second-ranked team in the Southern Conference Saturday afternoon. Chattanooga had beaten Western Carolina by six earlier this season in Tennessee and the Catamounts were determined to not let that happen again. WCU never trailed in the game but the win would not come easily as a jumper by senior James Sinclair with just over 35 seconds left in the game broke a 70-70 tie and eventually proved to be the game-winner.

Sinclair finished with a game-high 21 points. He also tied for the team lead with nine rebounds. Junior Mike Brown added 16 points and nine boards while junior Torrion Brummitt finished with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Brummitt was 6-8 from the field and 2-4 at the free throw line.

The Catamounts improved their record to 12-13 overall and 7-6 in Southern Conference play. The Mocs dropped to 16-9 overall and 9-3 in conference action.

WCU held Chattanooga to 29.6 percent shooting in the first half as the Catamounts built up a 14-point lead at the break. The Mocs struggled from all parts of the court as they shot just 23.1 percent from three in the period and 54.5 percent from the free throw line.

The second half saw the Mocs improve their shooting to 55.6 percent including 40.0 percent from three. They also shot 68.8 percent from the free throw line. The Catamounts were able to hang on as they never allowed the Mocs to take the lead despite the score being tied late.

Chattanooga slowly worked its way back into the game in the second half eventually cutting the Catamount lead to one with 6:42 to play on an old-fashioned 3-point play by Greg Pryor. Junior Justin Browning was able to draw a foul on the next possession and knocked down a pair of free throws to push WCU's lead back to three.

After Chattanooga missed a 3-pointer for the tie, the Mocs were able to get the offensive board but they quickly turned it over when junior Rhett Harrelson stole the ball. Harrelson would race down the court and hit a 3-pointer that was originally ruled a two and push the Catamount lead to six. Chattanooga came up empty on the offensive end and Brown tried to bury the Mocs with a 3-pointer but the shot was off the mark and Sinclair collected the offensive board. Sinclair was fouled and connected on one of two free throws to push the lead to seven with 5:29 to play.

The lead would remain around the seven-point mark until a 7-0 run by the Mocs would tie the game at 70 with 1:53 left on the clock. The Catamounts turned the ball over on their next possession but the Mocs missed a three that would have given them the lead and Brown collected the rebound. The Catamounts ran down the shot clock and left the ball in Sinclair's hands. Sinclair dribbled into the lane before turning and launching a shot that gave WCU back the lead with 35.5 seconds remaining.

Chattanooga eventually called timeout with seven seconds left to set-up one final play. The Mocs found Eric Robertson at the top of the key but three feet beyond the 3-point arc. His shot did not hit anything and landed out of bounds with five second left. WCU inbounded the ball into senior Kenneth Hall who was immediately fouled. Hall hit one of two free throws and Chattanooga's desperation three was off the mark.

WCU returns to action Thursday, Feb. 12 at Mercer. Game time is set for 7 pm on ESPN3.