Written by
The Sports Network
Cullowhee, NC (Sports Network) - Jelani Hewitt scored 18 points and swiped
five steals to push the Georgia Southern Eagles to a 68-65 victory over the
Western Carolina Catamounts in Southern Conference action at the Ramsey
Center.
Ben Drayton III added 14 points for the Eagles (10-12, 8-4 SoCon), as they won
their fourth game in five tries. Eric Ferguson added 13 points and eight
rebounds in the victorious effort.
Western Carolina (10-15, 4-8) was led by Keaton Cole's 17 points, while
Harouna Mutombo came off the bench to add 16 points and six rebounds. Trey
Sumler contributed 12 points and four assists for the Catamounts.
Georgia Southern took a 33-30 lead into intermission after it shot 56.5
percent from the field in the opening period. The Catamounts connected on 6-
of-9 from three-point range to stay within striking distance.
Western Carolina erased the halftime deficit and held a 52-46 lead with 10:50
remaining in the contest. The conference foes went back and forth before
Willie Powers gave the Eagles a 66-65 lead with 1:40 left to play. Hewitt
added a pair of free throws to put Georgia Southern up three and Preston Ross
missed a potential game-tying three-point attempt at the buzzer to give the
Eagles the victory. Both teams went 3-of-8 from beyond the arc in the final 20
minutes of action.
The Eagles dominated inside as they held a 31-23 advantage in the rebounding
battle and outscored the Catamounts, 36-18, in the paint.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network