CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Dec. 30, 2013) â€" Western Carolina University took advantage of a hot-shooting night and ran away with a 106-72 victory over the Milligan men's basketball team Monday inside the Ramsey Center.
 
Milligan dropped its third consecutive regular season contest and fell to 8-5 overall (3-2 AAC). WCU improved to 7-8, including 5-0 on its home floor.
 
Western Carolina was led by senior Trey Sumler's 40 points. Sumler was 13-of-21 from the floor and 7-of-10 from behind the arc. Only one other Catamount, Torrion Brummitt (16), reached double figures in scoring.
 
The Buffaloes kept things close over the first 13 minutes, thanks mostly to a 10-0 run where they cut the Catamounts' lead to 18-15 with 10:31 left. WCU, though, answered by scoring 10 of the next 13 points before closing out the first half on a 15-4 run. The Catamounts led 46-26 at the halftime break.
 
Mike Woods, Jr. led Milligan's offensive efforts with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Cartree Pettis scored 12 to go alongside five assists, and Torian Sitton added 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Western Carolina was 48.6% (35-72) from the field, including 41.9% (13-31) from three-point territory. That same Catamount squad set the school record for three-pointers in a game (20) earlier this season.
 
Milligan was limited to 39.4% (26-66) from the field but managed to convert 9-of-31 attempts (31.0%) from three.
 
Milligan will continue play on Thursday, Jan. 2 with a trip to Dayton, Tenn., where the Buffaloes will look to tame the Lions of Bryan College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the women's game.