Western Carolina beats Division II Mars Hill 87-71

Dec 28, 2017, 04:20 pm

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Ashley Williams scored 24 points, Adam Sledd had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Western Carolina beat Division II Mars Hill 87-71 on Wednesday.

After Mars Hill got within 52-50 on Luke Van-Rijn's 3-pointer with 12:22 remaining, Western Carolina went on a 12-0 run. Williams made a 3-pointer during the stretch and Sledd scored four points. Mars Hill was down by just six points with 4:19 left but Western Carolina scored the next nine, capped by Williams' dunk at the 2:49 mark.

Marc Gosselin added 14 points and Elijah Pughsley made four 3-pointers for 12 points for Western Carolina (5-8).

The Catamounts built an 18-4 lead over the first seven minutes of the game. Mars Hill rallied late in the half and Vernon Jackson hit a shot just before the halftime buzzer to pull the Lions to 35-33.

Jackson scored 12 points for Mars Hill and Van-Rijn finished with 11 points.