CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina redshirt junior Joe Petrakis led the Catamounts with a career-high 17 points, but an early Wofford run propelled the Terriers to an 84-64 win on Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference action on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
 
Petrakis surpassed his previous career-best of 15 points recorded against American on Nov. 19, finishing 6-for-13 from the field and 5-for-10 on 3-point attempts. Tyler Harris and Nicholas Robinson also finished in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
B.J. Mack scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Terriers and was joined in the 20-point club by Luke Turner with a career-best 20. Turner logged a double-double thanks to a game-high 10 rebounds. Isaiah Bigelow tallied 19 points while Ryan Larson finished with 11.
 
The Terriers opened the game on a 6-2 run and led 17-3 following a Bigelow 3-pointer at the 14:18 mark. A Petrakis 3-pointer with 10:57 trimmed the WCU deficit to nine, 19-10 but Mack pushed the Terrier lead back to double digits with a layup on the ensuing possession. Wofford's lead swayed between eight and 13 points for the remainder of the half as a Mack 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining sent the Terriers into the locker room with a 47-35 advantage.
 
Petrakis and a pair of Wofford players traded 3-pointers in the early stages of the second half to keep the Catamounts within nine, 50-41. The Wichita, Kan. native hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game at the 14:35 mark to make the score 53-44 before Wofford answered with a 12-2 run over the next four minutes as a Mack jumper gave the visitors a 64-46 edge at the midpoint of the half. An 8-0 spurt brought the Catamounts within 10, 64-54, following a Harris 3-pointer just inside of eight minutes remaining but WCU would get no closer the rest of the way.
 
Wofford held a 38-30 edge in rebounds. The Terriers were 31-for-58 (53.4 percent) from the field, 13-for-31 (41.9 percent) behind the 3-point line, and 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) at the free throw line. WCU was 22-for-56 (39.3 percent) from the field, 9-for-30 (30 percent) behind the arc, and 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) from the field.
 
The Catamounts open a three-game road swing on Wednesday, traveling to chromatic rival Furman for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with Catamount Sports Network audio coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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