CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina graduate transfer
Nicholas Robinson recorded his 1,000
th career point late in the first half on Monday night, but Western Carolina was unable to hold off a UNCG squad that made a season-high 13 3-pointers in a 68-49 loss to the Spartans on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
UNCG improves to 14-10 overall and 6-6 in the Southern Conference while WCU drops to 9-16 and 3-9.
Robinson, who was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week presented by GEICO earlier on Monday, scored his 1,000
th career point on a jumper at the 3:57 mark of the first half. He led the Catamounts with a game-high 20 points, going 7-for-15 from the field.
Cam Bacote also finished in double figures with 10 points along with a team-best four assists. Robinson and
Marcus Banks each snagged five rebounds.
Kaleb Hunter paced three Spartans in double-figures with 15 points followed by De'Monte Buckingham and Keyshaun Langley with 14 each. Bas Leyte pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Langley put the Spartans ahead 18 seconds into the game with a layup before Robinson gave the Catamounts a 3-2 lead on a 3-pointer at the 17:40 mark. Leyte hit a pair of free throws to give the Spartans a 6-5 advantage with just over 15 minutes to play in the first half and UNCG would never relinquish the lead. The Spartans grabbed a 19-10 lead on a Langley 3-pointer with 7:43 to go before the break. Robinson brought the hosts within seven, 21-14, with his milestone points before the Spartans closed the half on a 15-5 run to lead 36-19 at intermission.
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Tyler Harris dunk 16 seconds into the second half ignited the crowd as the Catamounts trimmed the UNCG lead to 14, 40-26, just over three minutes into the frame. Over the next six minutes, though, UNCG embarked on a 14-3 run for a game-high 25-point lead, 54-29, thanks to a Langley jumper at the 10:41 mark. WCU would get no closer than 17 points for the remainder of the game.
UNCG finished 23-for-56 (41.1 percent) from the field, 13-for-32 (40.6 percent) behind the 3-point line, and 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) at the free throw line. WCU was 18-for-53 (34 percent) from the field, 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from the field, and 8-for-11 (72.7 percent) at the charity stripe. The Spartans held a 41-29 edge in rebounds. Both teams committed 16 turnovers.
WCU heads to league-leading Chattanooga on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
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