SoCon Tournament Central

Game 9: #2S Wofford 86, #1N Western Carolina 72

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Wofford shot 54 percent from the floor and placed three in double-figures en route to an 86-72 win over Western Carolina in the first semifinal of the 2011 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship at the McKenzie Arena.

The Terriers will aim for a second consecutive Southern Conference championship Monday night against either College of Charleston or Furman. The title tilt will tip at 9 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2.

Wofford (20-12) was efficient from the field, hitting on 26-of-48 field goal attempts, while consistently getting to the foul line after forcing the ball down low. The Terriers hit a season-high 28 free throws at an 80 percent clip.

The Terriers were on fire in the first half, draining 16-of-27 field goals (59 percent) and 11-of-12 free throws (92 percent). At the 11:35 mark of the opening frame, Nathan Parker ignited a 27-10 Terrier run when his jumper gave Wofford the lead. WCU's Richie Gordon, the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, was whistled for his third foul with 9:33 to go with the Catamounts down just four. From that point forward, the Terriers began to stretch their lead.

The Terriers would increase the lead to as much as 16 points before WCU countered with a quick 12-3 spurt of its own to stay within striking distance.

Cameron Rundles banked home a runner with three seconds remaining to put Wofford ahead, 45-36, at the intermission.

Harouna Mutombo scored the first four points of the second half to bring the Catamounts to within five at 45-40, but WCU (18-15) would never get any closer the rest of the way.

Mike Williams paced the Catamounts with 25 points while Mutombo notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards.

Noah Dahlman (18 points), Jamar Diggs (17) and Cameron Rundles (17) were Wofford's three leading scorers on the evening.

The win marked the second straight season that Wofford eliminated WCU in the SoCon semifinals.