Box Score Box Score
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The Wofford College men’s basketball team defeated Western Carolina 58-49 in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Terriers advance to play Davidson at 2:00 pm on Saturday.
Wofford is 16-15 overall and 8-12 in SoCon play. Western Carolina is 10-21 overall and 6-14 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 16 points and Corey Godzinski with Corey Godzinski with 13 points. Tim Johnson had eleven rebounds for Wofford. Western Carolina was led by Jake Robinson with 14 points and Blake Gallagher with seven rebounds.
“Nothing is easy in our league and we knew going in that this would be a tough one,” said head coach Mike Young. “It was another grind it out affair and it was tough in the second half. Our senior guards were outstanding. Drew Gibson was superb and Nichols and Salters made some big shots to get us the win.”
The Terriers scored first on a basket by Tim Johnson and were up 9-5 at the first media timeout at 15:42. The Catamounts tied the game at 9-9 with a basket by Jake Robinson, but Wofford regained the lead with a jumper by Corey Godzinski at 11:24. A lay-up by Noah Dahlman gave the Terriers a five-point lead at 16-11 with 7:02 on the clock.
Western Carolina pulled within two, but Noah Dahlman gave the Terriers an 18-14 lead with 4:54 left in the first half. A three-pointer by Corey Godzinski pushed the lead to 23-14 just a minute later. Junior Salters added a bucket at 1:45 for a 25-17 advantage, however the Catamounts scored the final four points of the half to go into the break 26-21 Wofford.
To start the second half, the Catamounts scored on a basket by Arnold Gore to cut the lead to three. Wofford responded with a dunk by Corey Godzinski. After a basket by Terry Martin at 14:32, the Terriers had a 33-27 lead. The lead quickly evaporated and a three-pointer by Jake Robinson at 12:28 tied the game at 34-34. The game stayed tied at 36 each, then the Catamounts took a 38-36 lead after a basket by Negus McKenna at 10:30.
Wofford then went on a 7-0 run that began with a three-pointer by Junior Salters at 10:12 to go up 43-38. The run was answered by the Catamounts with their own 7-0 run, including five straight points by Jake Robinson, to go up 45-43 at 7:04. The run ended with back-to-back three pointers by Corey Godzinski to regain the lead at 49-45 with 4:02 on the clock.
After a basket by the Catamounts to cut the lead back to two points at 49-47 at 3:35, Wofford added a three by Shane Nichols and a lay-up by Noah Dahlman to take a 54-47 lead with just 1:22 left. Wofford hit 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute to secure the 58-49 victory.
Wofford shot 41.7% from the floor and 26.3% from three. The Terriers were 56.5% from the line. The Catamounts were 36.5% from the floor and 15.8% from behind the arc and 61.5% from the free throw line. Wofford had a 38-30 lead on the boards.
Drew Gibson entered the game five points shy of 1,000 for his career; he hit his 1,000th point on a lay-up at 16:14 in the first half. The win was the first for the Terriers in the conference tournament since an 85-82 win over UNC Greensboro in 2004. Eric Wilson fouled out for the Catamounts with 29 seconds left in the game.
The Terriers next game will be against #1 seed Davidson at 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats were 20-0 in conference play this season and won both games against the Terriers earlier this year.
