Men's Basketball Southern Conference

SoCon Men's Basketball, Sunday, Nov. 15

Marquette 75, Western Carolina 64

Milwaukke, Wis. - Western Carolina got 20 points from David Berghoefer in the junior's homecoming, but Marquette preseason All-American Travis Diener scored a game-high 27 points to lead his Golden Eagles to a 75-64 over the Catamounts in the first round of the Black Coaches Association Classic, played at the Bradley Center. The game was the regular-season opener for both squads.

The Golden Eagles needed a second half comeback to secure the win. Marquette trailed 38-33 at the half and the Catamounts held the lead until Dameon Mason's lay-up at 13:41 gave Marquette a 46-44 advantage.

The game stayed close after that point as no team saw a lead greater than two until Steve Novak hit a 15 foot jumper at 9:10 following a Western Carolina turnover that gave Marquette a 56-52 advantage. Novak scored on the next possession to increase Marquette's lead to six just before the eight minute mark. Novak chipped in 22 for Marquette.

Western Carolina never gave up, but Marquette held the lead for the rest of the game as the team limited turnovers and made its free throws down the stretch. Marquette also dominated the boards with a 47-29 advantage.

In the first half, Western started slow. Berghoefer got WCU's first points with 15:18 left in the first half on a pair of free throws. Luckily, Western's defense kept Marquette to just two points over the first seven minutes of the game.

The Cats did start hitting from the field, but only sank 7-of-17 free throws, while Marquette was able to stay close, hitting 12-of-17 from the charity stripe in the first half.

In addition to Berghoefer's 20 points, Western got nine points from Corey Muirhead and Trey Hopkins each, while Rans Brempong and Berghoefer each pulled down six boards.

Western Carolina will return to action Monday at 2 pm (CT) versus Big 10 member Penn State, coached by former East Tennessee State mentor Ed DeChellis, as the Nittany Lions dropped an 82-73 decision to Illinois State prior to the WCU-Marquette game.



Elon 88, USC Aiken 81

ELON, N.C. - Colin Wyatt posted 21 points and eight rebounds and Jackson Atoyebi put up 16 points and 10 boards as Elon staved off USC Aiken 88-81 in exhibition men's basketball Saturday night at Alumni Gym.

In the early going, the Phoenix scored six consecutive points - capped by a Le'Von Jordan lay-up - to turn an 8-8 deadlock into a 14-8 edge with 14:01 to play in the first half. The Pacers stormed back with a 10-4 run to even the count at 18-18 on a Josh Geyer trey with 11:41 to play before the break.

USC Aiken soon increased that surge to a 17-6 run, claiming a 25-20 lead on a three-point basket by Richard Blocker with 10:21 left in the opening stanza. Later in the period, Elon used a 12-4 spurt to transform a 29-28 deficit into a 40-33 advantage on a bucket by Atoyebi with 2:11 left in the first half.

After settling for a 42-35 halftime deficit, the Pacers pulled within 42-38 on a three-pointer by Kenny Burr to open the second period. The Phoenix responded by erupting for a 15-2 run, claiming a 57-40 advantage on a jumper by Scottie Rice with 14:45 remaining in the contest.

Elon maintained an 8-17 point lead throughout most of the second half, establishing a 14-point advantage at 82-68 on a lay-up by Wyatt with 3:19 left. The Pacers made one final run with a 13-4 spurt to draw within 86-81 on a three-point bomb by Geyer with seven seconds to play, but could inch no closer.

A pair of free throws by Wyatt with six ticks left sealed the deal. The Phoenix saw 11 players make appearances with 10 scoring - five in double figures - while USC Aiken played 10 with all 10 appearing in the scoring column.

Rice (12 points, four steals), Montell Watson (11 points) and Jordan (10 points) all joined Wyatt and Atoyebi in double-digit scoring performances for Elon. Steve Harvin dished out six assists and Jordan passed out five while six different Phoenix players blocked a shot.

Geyer (21 points, five rebounds), Marcus Robinson (17 points, six rebounds), Arnold Coates (10 points), Curt Triplin (six rebounds), Blocker (eight assists) and Josh Poston (three steals) keyed USC Aiken. The Phoenix fired 52.2 percent from the floor while the Pacers shot 46.3 percent.

Elon begins regular-season action when it faces Fairleigh Dickinson at 9 p.m. Wednesday at N.C. State in the BCA Invitational.