DAVIDSON, N.C. – Tre Jackson scored a game-high 21 points to lead Western Carolina, but a second half run by Davidson proved to be the difference in a 72-64 loss to the Wildcats inside John M. Belk Arena on Wednesday.
 
Davidson improves to 7-3 overall while WCU drops to 4-6 on the season.
 
Jackson's 21-point output ties his WCU career-best which he also accomplished in a road win at McNeese State on Nov. 18. Vonterius Woolbright added 15 points followed by Tyzhaun Claude with 12 points, adding a team-best seven rebounds.
 
David Skogman and Desmond Watson led Davidson, both with 17 points followed by Sam Mennenga with 16. Mennenga also snared seven rebounds to lead the Wildcats.
 
Both teams finished the game 24 of 55 (43.6 percent) from the field. WCU was 5-for-20 (25 percent) behind the arc while Davidson was 8-for-16 (50 percent) on 3-point attempts. The Catamounts finished 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) at the free throw line while the Wildcats made 16 of 23 (69.6 percent) of the free throw attempts, ultimately sealing the victory from the stripe in the closing moments. Davidson held a slim 36-31 edge in rebounds.
 
A Tyler Harris 3-pointer gave the Catamounts a 13-7 advantage with 14:54 remaining in the first half. WCU later enjoyed a 20-13 lead following a pair of DJ Campbell free throws with just under nine minutes remaining before the break. The Wildcats responded with a 10-0 run, grabbing a 23-20 lead on a Foster Loyer bucket with 6:03 to play. Davidson maintained a lead between one and five points for the remainder of the half and the Wildcats took a 32-28 advantage into halftime.
 
Russell Jones Jr. opened the second half scoring as his layup brought the Catamounts within two, 32-30, 90 seconds into the second half before a Woolbright layup trimmed the deficit to 35-34 with 16:04 to go. Following a Jackson basket at the 14:03 mark that made the score 38-36 in favor of Davidson, the Wildcats embarked on a 13-0 run capped by a Watson jumper for a 51-36 lead with 11:28 to play. The Wildcats led by 13 points, 52-39, at the midpoint of the period.
 
WCU managed to pull to within six points in the closing moments, capitalizing on inbounds steals and a Jackson triple but could get no closer as the Wildcats sealed the win by making nine of 10 free throw attempts over the final 60 seconds.
 
The Catamounts return to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Saturday, hosting Brevard at 4 p.m.
 
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