East Tennessee State Buccaneers @ Western Carolina Catamounts
Payne has 22, ETSU bounces back, tops W Carolina 72-61
CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Devontavius Payne scored 22 points and East Tennessee State bounced back after having its 16-game winning streak snapped with a 72-61 win over Western Carolina on Saturday.
Bo Hodges added 17 points and Desonta Bradford had 10 for the Buccaneers (23-5, 14-1 Southern Conference), who lost at UNC Greensboro on Monday to bring an end to the nation's longest winning streak, which was one shy of the school record.
Deriece Parks had 17 points for the Catamounts (12-16, 7-8), have lost 23 of 24 in the series and haven't beaten ETSU in the regular season since January 26, 1998. Western Carolina shot 39 percent and was outrebounded 44-24.
Payne was 8 of 11 from the field and had three of his six treys when he scored the first 11 ETSU points in the second half. Hodges was 6-of-7 shooting. The rest of the team was 13-of-39.
Game Information
Cullowhee, NC
Referee:Billy Dunlap
Referee:Brad Corriher
Referee:Ryan Christian
2025-26 Standings
| Southern ConferenceSouthern Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 13-5 | - | 23-11 |
| Mercer | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Wofford | 11-7 | 2 | 19-13 |
| Samford | 11-7 | 2 | 18-14 |
| Furman | 10-8 | 3 | 22-13 |
| Western Carolina | 10-8 | 3 | 15-16 |
| UNC Greensboro | 9-9 | 4 | 15-19 |
| Chattanooga | 7-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
| The Citadel | 7-11 | 6 | 11-22 |
| VMI | 1-17 | 12 | 6-26 |
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