Box Score WOF-WCU Game Book (pdf)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team was defeated 77-65 by Western Carolina on Saturday night at the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts shot 60.8% from the floor for the night and had an advantage on the glass.
Wofford is 9-10 overall and 5-5 in the conference, while Western Carolina is 11-9 overall and 6-4 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 18 points, while Junior Salters had 14 points. Terry Martin had eight rebounds. For the Catamounts, Brandon Giles scored 16 points, Harouna Mutombo scored 14 and Jake Robinson added twelve. Brigham Waginger had six rebounds to lead Western.
“We have gotten beaten on the glass quite a bit here after being strong on the boards in the first thirteen games and that is disturbing,” said head coach Mike Young. “Western came after us and that is something that is important to them and they do a nice job rebounding with their perimeter guys. They were a lot more physical than us in the first half; we did a better job in the second half. We tried to give ourselves a chance but turnovers and we just did not defend well enough to win. You come up here and they shoot 61%, you are going to have a tough time.”
The Catamounts took an early 7-5 lead at the first timeout with 14:45 on the clock. Junior Salters hit a three to make it a 13-12 advantage for Western Carolina two minutes later. The Catamounts built a nine point lead at 23-14, but four straight points by Noah Dahlman cut it to 23-18 at 8:27. Greg Avery hit a three for Western to push it to an eight point lead.
Wofford was able to cut the lead to two points with a three from Junior Salters at 4:35 for a 30-28 score. Western then ran off a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 39-28 lead. At the half, the Catamounts had a 43-34 advantage. Western shot 59.4% from the floor and had an 18-9 lead on the boards in the first half.
After the first four minutes of the second half, the Catamounts still had a nine point lead at 49-40. Wofford pulled it to a seven-point game at 51-44 with 14:29 on the clock, but then Western went on a 8-0 run for a 59-44 advantage. The run ended with three free throws from Kevin Giltner, who then added a lay-up to cut the lead back to ten at 59-49 at 10:38.
The lead for Western remained at ten points until two free throws from Kevin Giltner and a three from Junior Salters cut the lead to 63-58 at 7:25. The Catamounts scored the next five points to push the lead back to ten at 68-58. A three by Salters cut it back to a seven point lead, but a three by Jake Robinson gave the Catamounts a 73-61 lead with just 2:17 left in the game. Western did not allow the Terriers to get any closer and had the 77-65 win.
Wofford shot 43.1% from the floor for the second-straight game and 42.9% from three. The Terriers were 88.2% from the line. The Catamounts shot 60.8% from the floor and 47.1% from behind the arc. Western Carolina was 41.2% from the free throw line. Wofford was out rebounded 30-27 and the Catamounts blocked seven shots.
The Terriers return home on February 5 to host Chattanooga in a game to be televised by SportSouth at 7:00 pm. Wofford will also be at home next Saturday, as they host Samford as part of a doubleheader with the women’s team which hosts Furman.
