Final Stats

LEXINGTON, Va. - The Western Carolina men's basketball team picked up its third-straight victory Thursday night after edging VMI 72-60 in Lexington, Va. The win marks the Catamounts first road victory since Jan. 4 and moves WCU into a tie with Furman for fourth in the Southern Conference standings. Three Catamounts reached double-figures in the victory with senior Deriece Parks leading the way with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Parks knocked down four 3-pointers in the game while picking up a pair of steals and a block. Freshman Matt Halvorsen came off the bench to score 14 points including nine in the second half. The Kingsport, Tenn., native also had three assists and three blocks. Fellow freshman Marcus Thomas chipped in 13 points and five rebounds. He was 6-of-8 from the field including 1-of-1 from 3-point range.

Junior Mike Amius finished with seven points but led the way on the boards with a team-high 11 rebounds. He also swatted a career-best four VMI shots while dishing out four assists. Junior Marc Gosselin also had seven points while adding six rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks.

The victory improves WCU's record to 12-13 overall and 7-5 in Southern Conference action. VMI falls to 7-16 on the year and 2-10 in league play.

WCU connected on 50.0 percent (27-54) of its shots from the field including 43.5 percent (10-23) from 3-point range. The Keydets struggled on the offensive end hitting just 31.3 percent (21-67) of its shots from the field and just 20.6 percent (7-34) from three.

The Catamounts turned the ball over 20 times which led to 19 VMI points. VMI on the other hand gave the ball away 15 times which WCU converted into just eight points. WCU edged VMI on the boards, 42-35, including eight offensive rebounds which led to 11 second chance points.

VMI placed three scorers in double-figures as well. Austin Vereen led the way with 13 points and 1- rebounds while Jordan Ratliffe added 13 points off the bench. Bubba Parham, who is the Southern Conference's top-scoring freshman, chipped in 12 points.

The Catamounts scored the first basket of the game as Gosselin hit a layup on WCU's opening possession. After both teams traded baskets, the Keydets went on a 13-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 15-6. Parks ended the run with a 3-pointer which sparked a 7-0 run by the Catamounts to cut the lead to just two with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Just under three minutes later Halvorsen nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game which once again sparked a Catamount run. WCU scored 10-straight points including the Halvorsen three to take a 25-18 lead with 6:08 left in the half. Both teams would combine for just seven points over the final six minutes of the half as WCU took a 29-21 lead into the break.

WCU continued to hold a multiple possession lead until an 11-0 run by the Keydets with just under 14 minutes to play cut the lead to three, 40-39. Parks once again came up huge as he nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to retake a seven point edge. The lead would remain over three points until another Keydet run cut the lead to three with 4:53 left in the game. Thomas hit a jumper to end the run but VMI's Keith Smith responded with a jumper of his own to cut the deficit to three once again. Halvorsen had the answer for the Catamounts as he drained a 3-pointer off a scramble play.

With 2:06 left, WCU began another 7-0 run which opened up a 13-point lead and put the game away. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch with WCU coming away with a 72-60 victory.

The Catamounts will continue its two-game road trip Saturday as WCU travels to Greensboro, N.C., to take on UNCG. The game will take place inside UNCG's on campus home, Fleming Gymnasium, due to a scheduling conflict with the Greensboro Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 pm Saturday afternoon.