Lawrence, Johnson and Draper lead CofC Past WCU, 82-75

Thursday, December 21

Cullowhee, NC

7 p.m.

College of Charleston

Western Carolina

Lawrence, Johnson and Draper lead CofC Past WCU, 82-75

12/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: CofCSports.com

Senior David Lawrence and sophomore Jermaine Johnson each scored 17 points, while senior Dontaye Draper notched 16 points, a career-high eight rebounds and seven assists in CofC's men's basketball team victory past Western Carolina, 82-75, in front of 1,036 fans at the Ramsey Athletic Center in Cullowhee, N.C. on Thursday evening.

Charleston improves to 6-6 overall and 2-1 in SoCon games this season, while Western Carolina drops to 5-5 overall and 2-1.

The Cougars began the game on a 10-4 run, which was highlighted by a Lawrence lay-up at the 15:34 mark in the first half. However, Western Carolina made a comeback and a jumper by Jake Robinson gave the Catamounts the lead, 23-22, with 9:16 left in the first half. This would become the last time that the Cougars trailed in the entire game. A three-pointer from senior Renardo Dickerson at the 8:48 mark in the half made the score, 25-23, in favor of CofC.

At the end of the first half, CofC led Western Carolina, 47-38. Charleston shot a season-high 65.4 percent from the field in the half, including making six out of eight three-point-attempts. Western Carolina shot 44.4 percent from the floor and made only five out of 18 attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

CofC continued its strong shooting effort and a lay-up by Johnson 32 seconds into the second half gave the Cougars their largest lead of the game, 49-38. Robinson's three-pointer with 2:29 left in the game got the Catamounts within one point of the Cougars, 74-73. However, a three-pointer by Lawrence 28 seconds later secured the lead for CofC's victory.

For the game, the Cougars shot a season-high 55.8 percent from the field, while the Catamounts shot 41.4. Western Carolina outrebounded CofC, 36-32, while the Cougars totaled more assists, 17-15. CofC finished the game making eight out of 18 three-pointers, while Western Carolina made 11 out of 32. CofC converted on sixteen free throw attempts out of twenty-two, while Western Carolina made all six of its attempts.

Antonio Russell scored 19 points to lead the Catamounts in scoring. Arnold Gore gained a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds, in the game for Western Carolina.

The Cougars will return to action on Dec. 23 at the John Kresse Arena against Fordham at 6 p.m. Western Carolina's next game will also be on Dec. 23 at Clemson beginning at Noon.