CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team completed the regular-season sweep of Western Carolina with an 81-70 victory Wednesday evening inside the Ramsey Center.
Game Information
Score: The Citadel 81, Western Carolina 70
Records: The Citadel (9-12, 4-5), Western Carolina (11-11, 4-5)
Location: Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Series: WCU leads 45-41
How it Happened
- The Bulldogs got off to a quick start as Elijah Morgan scored 10 points in the first eight-plus minutes of the game to open a 22-12 lead.
- The Catamounts responded with a run of their own and took a 31-29 lead with just over a minute to play.
- The lead did not last long as Jackson Price knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key on the next possession.
- After a stop on defense, Stephen Clark rebounded his own miss and kicked it out to Morgan who knocked down a three just before the buzzer to send the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 35-31 advantage.
- The Bulldogs came out of the locker room on a 13-4 run to push the advantage to 51-41.
- The Catamounts were able to pull within five a short time later, but back-to-back field goals from AJ Smith helped push the Bulldog lead back to 11.
- The Bulldogs continued to hold off any run by the Catamounts over the final stretch of the game. With just over two minutes to play, WCU scored down low to make it a six-point game. They applied the full court press, but the Bulldogs broke the press and found a wide open Ash for a three-pointer.
- The Citadel would ice the game at the foul line.
Inside the Box Score
- The victory completed the regular season sweep of Western Carolina. It is the first time since the 2010-11 season the Bulldogs swept the Catamounts during the regular season.
- The victory gives the Bulldogs back-to-back Southern Conference road victories for the first time since the 2014-15. In that season, The Citadel defeated Samford (66-65) on Feb. 12, 2015, before beating Furman (62-56ot) on Feb. 19, 2015.
- Stephen Clark led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two blocks.
- Austin Ash added 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Elijah Morgan had 16 points, four rebounds and two steals
- Madison Durr registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- The Bulldogs finished the game 29-o-55 (.527) from the floor and 9-of-22 (.409) from beyond the arc.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to McAlister Field House on Jan. 28 as they welcome Mercer for a 1 p.m. tip.
