Final Stats |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team survived an overtime scare Monday night against visiting UNCG as the Catamounts came away with an 83-77 victory inside the Ramsey Center. The two teams combined for 26 3-pointers in the game as both shot over 40.0 percent from long range. The Catamounts hit seven 3-pointers in both the first and second halves before going 0-1 from three in the extra period. UNCG hit seven in the first half, five in the second and went 0-3 from 3-point land in extra time.

Senior Rhett Harrelson led the way for Western Carolina as he dropped six 3-pointers on the Spartans to score a game-high 22 points. Senior Torrion Brummitt had an outstanding game in the paint as he scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds while guarding UNCG's top scorer. Senior Mike Brown was the final Catamount in double-digits with 12 points. Brown added a career-high seven assists while leading the team in rebounds with six.

The win improves WCU's record to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in SoCon action. It is also WCU's seventh win at home this season as the Catamounts moved to 7-1 at home. The Spartans of UNCG fell to 5-12 overall and 1-3 in SoCon play.

Sophomore Charlendez Brooks played 10 minutes off the bench as he spelled Brummitt who got into foul trouble late in the game. Brooks played solidly on defense against UNCG's RJ White while scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds.

Freshman Elijah Pughsley and sophomore Devin Peterson played quality minutes off the bench. Pughsley finished with nine points off of three 3-pointers while Peterson had eight points including a steal and slam that helped ignite the Catamounts offense in the second half.

The Catamounts shot 51.9 percent from the field in the game while going 14-of-25 from 3-point range. The Spartans connected on just 41.5 percent from the field including going 12-of-30 from three.

The game was close throughout with UNCG leading for 28:32 of the 45 minutes of play while WCU led for 14:19.

The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead before a 9-0 run by the Catamounts turned the tables in the first half. WCU would continue to lead until a jumper at the 9:55 mark gave UNCg a 16-15 lead and their first since the 16:01 mark. The Spartans would lead the rest of the half except at the 1:08 mark when a Brummitt 3-pointer gave WCU a 37-36 lead. A 5-0 run by the Spartans to close out the half gave UNCG a 41-37 lead at the break.

The Spartans would extend their lead to 11 just six minutes into the second half before the Catamounts began to chip away. An 18-5 run by the Catamounts that started with a Pughsley 3-pointer with 11:50 left in the game gave WCU back the lead, 64-62 with 6:09 to play. The two teams would trade blows the rest of the way with a Harrelson 3-pointer with 34 second left being the final score of the period, 72-72.

UNCG struck the first blow in overtime with a free throw just under 20 seconds into the period. The two teams traded baskets before an old-fasioned 3-point play by Brummitt gave WCU a 77-75 lead which they would never relinquish. WCU's final six points of the game all came at the free throw line as the Catamounts hung on for a 83-77 victory.

Marvin smith led the Spartans with 21 points while Francis Alonso added 16.

The Catamounts will now travel to Chattanooga on Thursday, Jan. 14 for a 7 pm contest against the Mocs.