ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Tyzhaun Claude and Bernard Pelote led Western Carolina with 11 points each, but UNC Asheville used a 12-0 run in the early stages of the second half to grab a lead they wouldn't relinquish in a 73-61 win over the Catamounts on Saturday inside Kimmel Arena.
 
UNC Asheville improves to 4-2 on the season while WCU sees its four-game winning streak snapped, dropping to 4-3.
 
Both Claude and Pelote came off the bench to finish in double figures. Tyler Harris, Tre Jackson, and Vonterius Woolbright each added nine points, with Woolbright bringing down a team-best seven rebounds on the defensive glass.
 
Drew Pember led UNC Asheville with 28 points, going 9-for-14 from the field and 8-for-11 at the free throw line. Jamon Battle added 19 points followed by Taijon Jones with 12 points.
 
A Jones 3-pointer at the 17:01 mark of the first half gave the Bulldogs a 5-2 lead before WCU grabbed its first lead of the contest, 6-5, thanks to a Marlow Gilmore dunk with 15:28 to play. A pair of Pelote 3-pointers put the Catamounts ahead 16-10 at the midpoint of the half before an 11-0 Bulldog run capped by a Jones 3-pointer put the hosts ahead 21-10 with 6:37 remaining. DJ Campbell's layup with just under five minutes left put WCU back on top 24-23 only to see Trent Stephney put the Bulldogs back on top 29-26 with 3:07 left. Woolbright's layup gave WCU a 31-29 lead with 53 seconds left with Pember making one of two free throws to cement a 31-30 Catamount halftime advantage. Of WCU's 31 first half points, 13 of them came as a result of 10 UNC Asheville turnovers.
 
Pember opened the second half scoring with a dunk and a jumper to put the hosts ahead 34-31 less than a minute into the period. WCU used an 8-0 run aided by a pair of 3-pointers and a Claude dunk for a 43-36, with 15:25 to play. With WCU leading 44-38, the Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run capped by a Pember jumper to lead 50-44 at the 10:43 mark. A Pelote jumper with 6:34 to play brought the Catamounts within two, 57-55, before the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 68-57 with a pair of Battle free throws with two minutes left. Jackson's free throws with 74 seconds left brought the Catamounts within seven, 68-61, but the Bulldogs sealed the win with free throws in the waning moments.
 
For the game, WCU finished 24-for-60 (40 percent) from the field, making 6 of 22 (27.3 percent) 3-pointers and 7 of 13 (53.8 percent) free throw attempts. The Bulldogs were 25-for-53 (47.2 percent) from the field, 5-for-11 (45.5 percent) behind the arc, and 18 for 30 (60 percent) at the free throw line. UNC Asheville held a 41-36 edge in rebounds.
 
WCU returns to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Wednesday, opening up a two-game homestand against Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.
 
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