Chattanooga 81, W. Carolina 72

Feb 28, 2013, 09:39 pm

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Z. Mason had 25 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to lead Chattanooga to an 81-72 victory against Western Carolina in a Southern Conference game on Thursday night.

Ronrico White scored 19 points and Ghee McGee had 12 for the Moccasins (13-17, 8-9), who have won two in a row.

Western Carolina won 90-81 at Chattanooga on Jan. 19. The teams have split the series for seven straight seasons.

Brandon Boggs scored 21 points, Tawaski King had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Trey Sumler scored 10 for the Catamounts (12-18, 8-9), who lost their third straight.

Chattanooga scored the first 12 points of the game, shooting 53.8 percent from the field (14 of 26) and 77.8 percent from the line (14 of 18) to take a 43-29 lead at halftime.

Western Carolina closed to 64-62 on Boggs' 3-pointer with 5:29 left, but Chattanooga's 8-2 run sealed the victory.