CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2024) – Ebby Asamoah finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds and Quimari Peterson netted 13, but it wasn't enough to carry ETSU men's basketball past Western Carolina, as the Catamounts rallied for a 70-65 win over the Buccaneers on Saturday inside Ramsey Center. 
 
In a game where the Bucs made three more field goals (25-22), Western Carolina finished the game plus-three in three-pointers made (7-4) and plus-eight in made free throws (19-11). The Bucs shot 40 percent from the field (25-62) and went 21-of-42 from two-point range, while Western Carolina finished at 39 percent (22-56).
 
Both teams scored 28 points in the paint, while ETSU doubled up the Catamounts in second-chance scoring, 20-10. The Bucs were outrebounded by one, 40-39, but were plus-two in offensive rebounds, 14-12. Both teams had five assists to seven turnovers and each team totaled four steals. 
 
With the loss, ETSU dropped to 13-14 overall and 5-9 in league play, while Western Carolina improved to 19-8, 8-6. 
 
The Bucs got off to a fast start as they scored the first nine points of the contest and took a 30-25 lead into halftime. 
 
Unfortunately, Western Carolina got hot in the second half as the Catamounts scored 45 points in the final 20 minutes and hit at a 56 percent clip (14-25) in the frame. 
 
The Catamounts scored the first five points of the second half to tie things up at 30. From there, Western Carolina took its largest lead of the night when a jumper by Vonterius Woolbright made it 40-34 at the 15:51 mark. 
 
ETSU quickly answered with a 6-0 run to pull even at 40, following a lay-up by Quimari Peterson with 13:45 remaining in the contest. 
 
Over the next six-plus minutes, the game featured six lead changes and one tie until the Catamounts used a 6-0 run to open a five-point lead, 54-49 with just under eight minutes to play. 
 
Western Carolina led for the next three and a half minutes before Karon Boyd found Asamoah open for a three to pull the Blue & Gold even at 61 with 4:26 showing on the clock. The Bucs would pull back even at 63 and 65, but after Peterson fouled Woolbright with under a minute to play, Western Carolina took the lead for good at 66-65. 
 
Asamoah missed a jumper at the free throw line with 19 seconds remaining – and after video review – the Bucs were awarded the ball after it glanced off a Catamount player and landed out of bounds. However, instead of having the full 19 seconds to execute a play, the shot clock was reset to eight seconds – and after a 30-second ETSU timeout – Jaden Seymour was forced to throw up desperation off-balanced jumper which just grazed the rim. The Catamounts corralled the defensive rebound and the Bucs were forced to foul. Woolbright made four throws in the final seven seconds to ice the game. 
 
Asamoah registered his first career double-double with the 20 points and 11 rebounds. 
 
Western Carolina was led by Woolbright and Russell Jones, Jr. as they each poured in 21 points. Woolbright also finished with 10 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the year.  
 
The Bucs look to bounce back into the win column when ETSU hosts VMI Wednesday night at 7 p.m. inside Freedom Hall. 
  
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's basketball tab.