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 Western Carolina forward Cory Largent, bottom, and Kansas State guard Gilson DeJesus struggle for possession of a loose ball during the first half Wednesday. |
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Dec 19, 2001
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Kevin Martin scored 29 points, 15 in the second half, as Western Carolina rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to edge Kansas State 66-64 Wednesday night.
The win lifted the Catamounts to 6-3 overall, matching their win total of last season, and their third straight victory. Western Carolina won at Florida State on Dec. 8 to start the winning streak. Martin also had 29 points in the Catamounts' last outing, a home win over Guilford.
Terrence Woodyard stole the ball from Kansas State's Larry Reid with 21 seconds remaining and the Catamounts holding a 65-62 lead. Woodyard was fouled and made a free throw with 9.8 seconds left, putting the game out of Kansas State's reach as Pervis Pasco scored the final basket with two seconds to go.
The Wildcats (5-4) led 39-24 at the half, hitting 51 percent of their shots before the break. But Western Carolina (6-3) made seven of their first 10 shots in the second half and went ahead with a 24-3 run.
Casey Rogers capped the string with a pair of 3-pointers that put the Catamounts up 50-45 with about 10 minutes left to play.
Western Carolina remained in control the rest of the way. Pasco pulled the Wildcats to within one at 63-62 when he made one of two free throws with 34.9 seconds left. But Kori Hatcher's two free throws widened the Catamounts' lead.
Rogers and Cory Largent each scored 9 points for Western Carolina and Willie Freeman had 8. Gilson DeJesus led Kansas State with 18 points, and Travis Reynolds had 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Western Carolina was 15-of-18 at the free throw line, while the Wildcats hit just 6-of-21.
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