CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Seven Catamounts scored in double-figures as Western Carolina men's basketball scored a season-high 117 points to close out the nonconference portion of its schedule with a 117-50 win over Toccoa Falls on Tuesday afternoon on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
 
WCU improves to 7-6 overall. The game was considered an exhibition for Toccoa Falls.
 
Tyzhaun Claude led the Catamounts with one of two double-doubles for WCU as he tied his career high with 21 points for the second straight game and also snagged 10 rebounds. Marlow Gilmore and Tyler Harris added a season-best 13 points each. Marcus Kell posted his second double-double of the year with 12 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Tre Jackson contributed 12 points while Bernard Pelote added 11 points. Making his WCU debut, transfer guard Elijah Cupples tallied 10 points in the final eight-plus minutes.
 
Anthony Williams II scored a game-high 25 points off the bench to lead Toccoa Falls. Khobe Comer and JaMariyus Pringle both snagged nine rebounds for the Screaming Eagles.
 
Claude opened the game with a three-point play at the 18:27 mark before the Screaming Eagles tallied four straight points for a 4-3 lead. After a Josh Parker jumper put the visitors ahead 9-8 at the 15:47 mark, WCU used a 6-0 spurt to grab a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Catamounts led 26-15 at the midpoint of the half and took a 51-24 lead into halftime as a Kell 3-pointer with 68 seconds left in the frame served as the final points of the opening half.
 
The Catamounts opened the second half on a 15-0 run over nearly the first four minutes of the period. A Jackson 3-pointer put the hosts ahead by 50, 79-29, with 11:45 remaining. A layup by Miles McClure in the final minute gave WCU its largest lead of the game at 67 points and also was the final basket scored.
 
For the game, the Catamounts finished 43-for-86 (50 percent) from the field, 13-for-36 (36.1 percent) behind the 3-point line, and 18-for-21 (85.7 percent) at the free throw line. Toccoa Falls was 18-for-74 (24.3 percent) from the field, 3-for-20 (15 percent) behind the arc, and 11-for-12 (91.7 percent) at the free throw line. WCU outrebounded Toccoa Falls 63-37 and outscored the Screaming Eagles 60-12 in the paint.
 
Following the holiday, WCU opens the Southern Conference portion of its schedule on Dec. 29, hosting UNCG at 2 p.m. That game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live audio on the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m.
 
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