GREENSBORO, N.C. – Returning to the team after a three-game absence, redshirt senior Mason Faulkner hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 53 seconds left for three of his team-high 28 points as Western Carolina knocked off Southern Conference-leading UNCG 81-80 on Wednesday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.

WCU snapped a 10-game losing skid to the Spartans and improved to 10-15 on the season and 3-13 in league games. UNCG dropped into second-place in the league based on winning percentage, falling to 17-8 overall and 12-5 in the league. Wednesday's game was the second in a set of back-to-back games between the schools with UNCG earning a 77-56 win in Cullowhee on Monday afternoon.

Faulkner scored a WCU season-high 28 points, going 10-for-18 from the field, 4-for-7 behind the arc, and 4-for-6 at the free-throw line. The Glasgow, Ky., native has made the game-winning shot for WCU three times this season, defeating Tennessee Tech in overtime on a buzzer-beater and putting the Catamounts ahead for good with five seconds left against The Citadel on Feb. 1.

Junior Kameron Gibson and senior Matt Halvorsen both scored 15 points with Gibson finishing a perfect 5-for-5 from distance, while junior Cory Hightower added 11. Hightower just missed a double-double as he pulled down a team-best nine rebounds while Xavier Cork had eight boards.

Isaiah Miller led three UNCG players in double figures with 28 points, going 11-for-27 from the field. Keyshaun Langley added 15 points followed by Kaleb Hunter with 10.

After UNCG tied the game at 78 on a Miller dunk with 1:25 to play, Faulkner shook a defender and made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 53 seconds left for an 81-78 lead. Miller brought the Spartans within a point on the next Spartan possession and UNCG grabbed the defensive rebound following a missed WCU shot with 21 seconds left. Following a timeout, Miller missed a jumper contested by Cork in the lane with four seconds left, but Mohammed Abdulsalam grabbed the offensive rebound. Guard Keyshaun Langley took a pass but missed a 3-point attempt as time expired.

The Catamounts came out of the gates strong with an 11-3 run capped by a Gibson 3-pointer at the 16:50 mark. WCU led for the opening 10 minutes of the game before a Hunter layup put the hosts ahead 21-19 at the 9:14 mark. A Kobe Langley 3-pointer put UNCG ahead 36-30 with 3:19 left in the stanza before WCU closed the half on a 10-0 run and led 40-36 at halftime.

A pair of Faulkner free throws at the 17:16 mark of the second half gave WCU a game-high 10-point lead, 47-37. UNCG whittled away at the Catamount advantage and pulled ahead 64-63 on a Miller jumper at the 7:41 mark. Khyre Thompson put the Spartans ahead 72-66 with just over five minutes to play. However, WCU marched back over the next two minutes as a Gibson 3-pointer gave the Catamounts a 74-72 lead at the 3:02 mark. Miller tied the game on the next UNCG possession and the teams traded the next eight points to set the stage for Faulkner's heroics.

WCU finished the game 25-for-55 (45.5 percent) from the field and tied a season-high with 14 made 3-pointers, going 14-for-26 (53.8 percent) behind the arc. The Catamounts also made 17 of 20 (85.0 percent) free throw attempts. UNCG went 30-for-77 (39 percent) from the field, 10-for-29 (34.5 percent) behind the arc, and 10-for-15 (66.7 percent) at the free throw line.

Western Carolina seniors Mason Faulkner, Matt Halvorsen, and Marcus Thomas will be honored before Saturday's regular-season finale against Mercer at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live audio on the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 12:30 p.m.

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