CULLOWHEE, N.C. –
Tyzhaun Claude recorded his team-leading fourth double-double of the season, but Western Carolina dropped a 79-64 decision to USC Upstate in non-conference basketball action Saturday on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
USC Upstate evens its record at 4-4 while WCU drops to 4-5.
Claude tallied 17 points to finish in double figures for the ninth straight game and snagged 12 rebounds.
Tre Jackson finished with 15 points followed by
Vonterius Woolbright with 11.
Jordan Gainey led four USC Upstate players in double figures with 21 points. Nick Alves and Khydarius Smith both tallied 12 points, followed by Justin Bailey with 11.
After the teams struggled to gain separation early on, a
Russell Jones Jr 3-pointer put the Catamounts ahead 14-9 with 14 minutes remaining in the opening half. Woolbright's layup at the 9:02 mark gave WCU a half-best nine-point lead, 23-14. USC Upstate answered with a 10-0 run, pulling ahead on a Bailey jumper with 6:30 to play. With the score tied at 26, the Spartans went on an 11-2 spurt capped by a Bailey bucket at the 2:31 mark for a 37-28 lead. Jackson sank a 3-pointer to bring WCU within four, 39-35, with 92 seconds left in the frame but the Spartans led 43-35 at halftime.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half before a pair of free throws by former Catamount Ahmir Langlais gave the visitors a 54-44 lead with 14:49 left. USC Upstate extended its lead to double-digits, 58-46, on a layup by Alves with just over 13 minutes left. The Spartan lead never shrank to less than eight points for the rest of the game and USC Upstate led by as many as 16 points down the stretch.
For the game, the Catamounts finished 22-for-60 (36.7 percent) from the field, 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) behind the 3-point line, and 15-for-25 (60 percent) at the free throw line. USC Upstate made 27 of 49 shots (55.1 percent) from the field, 1 of 3 (33 percent) of its 3-point attempts, but converted 24 of 29 (82.8 percent) of its free throws. WCU outrebounded the Spartans 36-30. The Spartans took advantage of 15 Catamount turnovers, converting them into 21 points.
WCU hits the road on Wednesday, traveling to former Southern Conference rival Davidson for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@catamountmbb @wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@CatamountMBB @catamounts.
