Final Stats |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team rebounded for its tough loss a week ago to down visiting VMI 73-52 in Southern Conference action. The win is the first conference victory for the Catamounts this season while the Keydets dropped their third-straight SoCon game of the season. Senior Rhett Harrelson opened the game going 6-of-7 from 3-point range and led all scorers with 23 points.

With the win, the Catamounts improved to 6-9 on the season and 1-1 in SoCon action while the Keydets fell to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in conference games.

Senior Torrion Brummitt recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds against the Keydets. He added a career-high tying four blocks and a steal. Senior Mike Brown had 17 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.

Freshman Marc Gosselin was second on the team in rebounds with eight while adding three points and a pair of steals.

The Catamounts shot 47.2 percent from the field in the game including 53.6 percent in the first half. The Keydets were held to 33.9 percent shooting and were just 8-14 from the free throw line.

WCU edged the Keydets in rebounding 38-36 and won the turnover battle by one.

Western Carolina led for nearly 38 minutes of the game and trailed just once in the entire game as VMI took an early 3-2 lead.

The Catamounts led by single digits for most of the opening period until a 16-4 run to close out the half gave WCU a 39-24 lead at the break.

The lead never dropped below double-digits in the second half as WCU cruised to the 21-point victory.

Sophomore Devin Peterson and freshman Elijah Pughsley each added seven points to WCU's total while Pughsley made the first start of his career.

VMI was led by Julian Eleby and QJ Peterson who had 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Catamounts will have a short turnaround as they face UNCG inside the Ramsey Center Monday night a 7 pm. The game will be carried nationwide on the American Sports Network.