Western Carolina beats UNC Asheville 90-81

Nov 15, 2015, 07:05 pm

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Mike Brown scored a career-high 29 points and Western Carolina beat UNC Asheville 90-81 on Sunday.

Brown was 9 of 15 and made 9 of 10 free throws to lead the Catamounts (1-1). Elijah Pughsley added 19 points, Torrion Brummitt 18 and Justin Browning 16.

The game's telling stat was Asheville's 19 turnovers to Western Carolina's nine. The Catamounts forced 17 turnovers in their season-opening loss to Cincinnati and it's the seventh straight game dating to last season that they have an edge in turnovers.

The Bulldogs (0-1) led 34-31 at the break. But after shooting just 37 percent in the first half, the Catamounts scored 59 points on 65.6 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.

Western Carolina took the lead for good at 73-72 with 3:30 left on Brown's layup and extended it to 11 with a half-minute to go.

Kevin Vannatta, who made 11 of 13 free throws, had 20 points to lead Asheville.