Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
Western Carolina 83, The Citadel 57
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Western Carolina’s leading scorer, sophomore Antonio Russell, had a career evening to lead Western Carolina to an 83-57 victory over The Citadel in the teams’ Southern Conference opener for the 2005-06 season. Russell scored a career-high 26 points for the Catamounts, making 5-of-9 shots from the field, including a career-best 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and sinking a career-high 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
Three other Catamounts scored in double figures, including Eric Wilson (15), Corey Muirhead (14) and Kyle Greathouse (12), while The Citadel only had one player, Demetrius Nelson with 11 points, in double figures. Russell, Wilson, Muirhead and Greathouse combined to make 18-of-27 shots from the field, including 11-of-14 from 3-point range. The 26-point victory by the Catamounts was the team’s largest in league play since defeating The Citadel by 29 (71-42) on Jan. 26, 2004, which was the last time the Bulldogs came to Cullowhee.
Western (7-6, 1-0 SoCon) drained 13 3-pointers in the contest, one shy of a school record 14, which was set earlier this season in a win over UNC Asheville. Greathouse got the Catamounts started from 3-point range, hitting the first shot of the game beyond the arc to give Western a lead (3-0) it would never relinquish.
The Citadel (7-4, 0-1 SoCon) kept the game close through the first nine minutes of the game, trailing by just two (14-12). However, at the 11:04 mark, Wilson, who had seven rebounds and four assists, connected with Muirhead on an alley-oop dunk, sparking a 8-0 WCU run for a 10-point lead. The Bulldogs answered with a Mark Schiavone 3-pointer, only to have the Catamounts go on a 10-3 run to take a 32-18 lead with 4:52 left in the first half. Dante Terry hit a jumper at the 3:35 mark , the Citadel’s lone two-point basket in the first 20 mintues, to make it a 12-point game, which is as close as the Bulldogs would get the remainder of the game.
The Catamounts took a 20-point lead, 41-21, into the locker room, out-rebounding the Bulldogs 24-9 and forcing the Citadel into eight turnovers with just two assists. The Bulldogs were held to 28.6 percent shooting, making 6-of-21 field goals overall and 5-of-14 from 3-point range, while Western was 13-of-26 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range.
The Citadel opened the second half forcing a WCU turnover, which led to a Terry layup to trim its deficit to 18. However, as he did in the first half, Greathouse drained a 3-pointer to get WCU started, pushing the Cats’ lead to 21 and Western would keep at least a 21-point cushion the remainder of the contest.
With Western having a commanding lead, the Catamounts worked the shot clock most of the second half, resulting in Russell draining two 3-pointers as the shot clock expired ? one at 14:32 and another at 11:58 ? essentially sealing the game.
For the game, Western out-rebounded the Bulldogs 37-21 and had 14 assists on 23 made baskets. Western also took the advantage at the free throw line, making 24-of-34, compared to just 15-of-28 for the Bulldogs.
In addition to Wilson having seven rebounds and four assists, senior Jared Outing duplicated those numbers. Wilson was 5-of-6 from the field in scoring his 15 points, his best point production versus a league opponent. For the Bulldogs, Nelson was 3-of-6 from the field and 5-of-9 from the free throw line in scoring his 11 points. He and J’Mel Everhart led The Citadel, each with four rebounds.
Western Carolina will play one more contest before Christmas, hosting Gardner-Webb on Thursday (Dec. 22) at 7:00 pm. The Citadel will return to the hardwood in two days (Dec. 20), playing at Duquesne at 8:00 pm in Pittsburgh.
Syracuse 90, Davidson 80
By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Gerry McNamara scored a season-high 38 points, hitting eight 3-pointers, and Syracuse beat Davidson 90-80 in a long-range duel Sunday.
It was the fifth straight win for the Orange (8-2) and snapped a four-game winning streak by Davidson (6-3).
Syracuse was 14-for-26 on 3-pointers, one off the school record set at West Virginia in 1997, and equaled its Carrier Dome record for most 3s, set against Notre Dame in 2000.
Demetris Nichols, who was 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, finished with a career-high 26 points, and Eric Devendorf had nine for the Orange.
Ian Johnson led the Wildcats with 23 points, Brendan Winters and Matt McKillop each scored 15, and Boris Meno had 10.
Davidson, which entered the game averaging 36.5 percent on 3-pointers, finished 9-for-29 from long range. Winters, hounded by the long-armed Nichols, struggled the most, going just 1-for-12.
Syracuse broke open a tight game with a 10-2 run early in the second half to get a comfortable lead. McNamara, who finished 8-for-12 on 3-pointers, scored the first five points and Nichols finished it with a three-point play, giving the Orange a 58-47 lead with 13:51.
A 3 by McNamara midway through the half gave Syracuse a 72-59 edge, but the Wildcats never wilted.
McKillop hit a 3 and three foul shots to cut the lead to 79-71 with 3:58 to go, but Josh Wright responded by draining a 3 from the right wing and McNamara fed Terrence Roberts for a slam dunk to keep the Orange comfortably in front.
Davidson had trouble with Syracuse's tight man defense and was unable to get its long-range attack in gear early. The Wildcats converted only three of their first dozen tries, but Syracuse had trouble scoring inside and 13 turnovers didn't help. That allowed the Wildcats to stay close, and they left the floor tied 36-36 at halftime.
Missouri 72, Furman 63
COLUMBIA, Mo (AP) - Thomas Gardner scored 20 points and Jimmy McKinney rebounded from a poor shooting night late in the game Sunday as Missouri held off Furman 72-63.
In a back-and-forth game, Missouri (4-3) took the lead for good on a McKinney jumper with 3:21 left. A 3-pointer by Jason Horton with 1:53 left put Missouri ahead 65-60.
Furman had a pair of chances with less than a minute left. After Horton turned the ball over on a five-second call, Eric Webb's 3-point attempt fell short. Kevin Young secured the rebound and was fouled, but he airballed the front end of a 1-and-1.
Robby Bostain went the length of the court but his layup rolled off the rim and Missouri secured the win from the free-throw line.
Gardner started the game 3-for-3 from the field, but he missed his next five shots and finished with eight points in the half.
Furman used runs of 8-0 and 7-0 to build a 34-33 halftime lead. Bostain paced the Paladins with nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the half.
Jason Horton added 13 points for Mizzou and McKinney had seven points on 2-for-12 shooting from the floor. McKinney and Marshall Brown each finished with 11 points.
Bostain led Furman (4-4) with 18 points and eight rebounds. Webb, who entered the game as the Paladins' leading scorer, finished with eight points.
It was Furman's second loss this season against a Big 12 opponent after falling 83-74 to Texas Tech on Nov. 23.