CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Jalen Riley scored 31 points -- one off his career-high -- and East Tennessee State beat Western Carolina 83-76 on Thursday.

It marks ETSU's 17th consecutive win over Western Carolina.

ETSU (10-5, 5-2 Southern Conference) scored seven straight points midway through the first half, including five from Riley, en route to a 37-26 lead at the break.

Western (8-10, 3-3) cut it to one with 9:31 left on Mike Brown's layup, but ETSU responded by scoring the next two baskets and a pair of free throws to push the lead back to six. Riley's 3-pointer with 6:43 left made it 64-58 and ETSU kept Western at arm's length down the stretch.

Rashawn Rembert had 21 for ETSU while A.J. Merriweather added 12.

The Catamounts were led by James Sinclair with 25 points. Torrion Brummitt had 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds and Brown added 14 points.