Cats pick up win over Mountaineers

Tom Tankelewicz drives on App St.
(WCU Photo by Mark Haskett)

With a 70-64 victory over the Mountaineers, the Catamounts evened its record against Appalachian State in games played in Cullowhee with their third straight win over the Mountaineers, in the 178th meeting all-time between the two schools  The WCU vs. ASU basketball series is the longest active series in the Southern Conference.  

With this win, the Catamounts go to 2-0 in Southern Conference play, and head coach Larry Hunter earns career victory #620.

Late in the first half of the game, the Mountaineers reeled off a 16-2 run that closed out the half and a put the Mountaineers up by 10 points, 36-26.  In the second half, the Catamounts began to slowly chip away at the ASU lead. However, it wasn't until Tawaski King made two free throws at the five minute mark, that the Catamounts had their first lead of the second half of the game. But ASU did not give up.

The Mountaineers regained the lead in the final four minutes before a Tom Tankelewicz three pointer gave the Cats a 61-60 lead with just under three minutes to play. The Cats then scored nine of the next 13 points to complete their second half comeback, and stay perfect in conference play.

Tom Tankelewicz led  the Catamounts with a career-high 19 points, Tawaski King added 14 points and eight rebounds, with Trey Sumler putting  in 13 points, and sophomore James Sinclair rounding out the four Catamounts in double figures with 12 points.

The Cats will now break for final exams, and return to action next Saturday, Dec. 15 against #15 ranked Georgetown in Washington, D.C. The game is scheduled for a noon tip-off, and will be televised on MASN and ESPN3.


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