Western Carolina rallies past ETSU in Cullowhee, 87-84

Published 10:33 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2022

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Leading by as many as 14 points in the second half and up nine with less than four minutes remaining, the ETSU men’s basketball team couldn’t hold on, as Western Carolina closed on an 18-6 run to rally past the Buccaneers, 87-84, on Wednesday night inside the Ramsey Center.

ETSU had its 14-game win streak over the Catamounts come to an end as the Bucs suffered their fourth straight loss, dipping to 12-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play. Western Carolina, who defeated the Bucs for the first time since March 7, 2015, snapped a five-game skid, improving to 9-14 overall, 3-7 in league play.

The Buccaneers made a season-high 15 three-pointers (12 in the first half) and shot 58 percent from beyond the arc; however, ETSU went 15-for-37 from two-point range (41 percent). Western Carolina knocked down 16 threes (45 attempts) and finished 44 percent from the field (28-64).

ETSU finished 9-of-13 at the charity stripe, compared to Western Carolina going 15-of-18.

The Bucs were out-rebounded 38-32 with the Catamounts being plus-5 on the offensive glass, 11-6. Western Carolina finished plus-7 in second-chance points, 14-7.

ETSU led for over 37 minutes, while the Catamounts only held the lead for the final 33 seconds. The Bucs were up 47-34 at the half and got outscored 53-37 in the second half.

Jordan King (Albany, N.Y.) continued his hot shooting as he netted a career-high 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting (7-11 from three). Over his last three games, King is averaging 27.3 points and six made threes, while shooting 56 percent from the field and 51 percent from three.

Ledarrius Brewer (Meridian, Miss.) added 18 points (four made threes), while Ty Brewer (Meridian, Miss.) posted 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

Jaden Seymour (Charlotte, N.C.) grabbed nine rebounds, while David Sloan (Louisville, Ky.) tallied 13 points, eight assets and zero turnovers.

Western Carolina’s Nicholas Robinson led all players with 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

The Bucs came out on fire with their long-range shooting as they made five of the first six from beyond the arc and led 21-11 following a Ledarrius Brewer triple with 12:22 left in the first half. Over the next five minutes, Western Carolina used a 12-3 run to pull within one, but Jordan King answered with three straight threes, extending the lead back to 10, 35-25, with five minutes left before the break. The Bucs’ lead hovered around double figures and went into the locker room up 13, 47-34.

ETSU was 12-of-16 from beyond the arc in the first half with King and Brewer combining for nine made threes and 33 points. King had 21 on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc and Brewer had 12 points on 4-of-5 from three-point land.

The Bucs controlled the first 15 minutes of the second half, but couldn’t hold on.

ETSU led by 14 with 13:37 remaining and was up 74-61 with 5:45 left; however, the Bucs saw the Catamounts close on a 26-10 run to cap off the rally. The win marked Western Carolina’s first victory over the Bucs in Cullowhee since Jan. 26, 1998.

ETSU wraps up its road swing Saturday afternoon when the Bucs play at Wofford. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

For more information on ETSU men’s basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s basketball tab.