CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Trey Sumler led nine Catamounts in double figures with a game-high 18 points Tuesday night as Western Carolina set a school single-game scoring record, cruising past the Toccoa Falls Eagles, 141-39, in the Ramsey Center. WCU scored the first 18 points of the game and led wire-to-wire en route to snapping a two-game slide.
In addition to breaking the single-game scoring record by eight points (141 over 133), Tuesday night's margin of victory (102) and points scored in the 72-17 first half were also records for the Catamounts. The 102-point win additionally ranks as the third-largest margin of victory in NCAA history.
Of the nine Catamounts in double figures, a combined six set career-highs in scoring in the victory.
Sumler finished 6-of-9 from the floor including a pair of 3-pointers and six assists in addition to his game-high point total. True freshman guard James Sinclair recorded his first career double-double with career bests of 16 points and 13 rebounds, adding five assists and three steals in the winning effort. The Savannah, Ga., native pulled down 10 defensive boards and blocked three shots for WCU.
Seniors Keaton Cole and Sam Smithson both scored 14 in the win with Cole draining four 3-pointers to give him 145 in his WCU career, moving him into ninth on the school's career charts. Smithson just missed a double-double, adding a career-best nine rebounds including six offensive boards. Ishmael Hollis tallied 13 points off the bench while Tom Tankelewicz chipped in 11 including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
Sophomores Tawaski King (5-of-7), Preston Ross (4-of-4) and freshman Kenneth Hall (4-of-5) all finished with 10 points apiece to round out the nine double-digit scorers. Dillon Dunford scored nine off the bench and Brandon Boggs posted seven in the victory for the purple and gold.
WCU's seasonal leader in scoring - senior Harouna Mutombo - missed double figures, finishing with nine points on 17 minutes of playing time. He did, however, move into 18th in school history in scoring, by-passing Bubba Wilson (1975-78) now with 1,354 career points.
Toccoa Falls guard Josh Barrett led the Eagles with a17 points including four 3-pointers, three of which came in the second half.
The Catamounts recorded a season-high 24 assists on its 51 made baskets, while holding a commanding 62-to-16 rebounding advantage including a 26-to-3 edge on the offensive boards for 36 second chance points. WCU scored 70 points in the paint and converted the 27 Eagle turnovers into a combined 50 points.
Western Carolina (9-10, 3-3 SoCon) returns to Southern Conference play this Saturday afternoon as it travels to the Holmes Center in Boone, N.C., to face North Division foe - and archrival - Appalachian State. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with a 3:00 pm tip-off.