CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2025) – It was a tale of two halves for the Buccaneers Wednesday night in Cullowhee.
Despite leading by seven at the half, ETSU struggled offensively in the final 20 minutes as Western Carolina rallied to defeat the Buccaneers 76-67 inside the Ramsey Center.
Playing without its second-leading scorer in Jaden Seymour, the Bucs were outscored 45-29 in the second half, snapping ETSU’s three-game win streak. The Blue & Gold were held to 28 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes (11-40) and 2-of-14 from long distance. After holding the Catamounts to 37 percent shooting in the first half, Western Carolina hit at a 54 percent clip (15-28) in the second. The Catamounts also went to the free throw line 17 times in the second half – hitting 12 of them – while ETSU went 5-of-7.
ETSU was led by Quimari Peterson as he netted 21 points, while John Buggs III hit two of the Bucs’ six threes en route to finishing with 13 points. Karon Boyd added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while also totaling five assists. Gabe Sisk accounted for 12 of ETSU’s 16 points off the bench. Sisk, who was 5-of-10 from the field, grabbed five rebounds.
For the game, ETSU was held to 34 percent shooting (24-71) and 22 percent from long distance (6-22). Western Carolina finished 45 percent (26-58) and went 7-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Catamounts were 17-of-22 at the free throw line, compared to ETSU going 13-of-16. The Bucs were outrebounded by seven, 45-38, while ETSU converted 16 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. The Bucs only turned the ball over five times and forced 12, but both teams scored six points off the miscues.
With the setback, ETSU dropped to 15-11 overall and 8-5 in league play, while Western Carolina snapped its four-game losing skid to improve to 7-17, 3-10.
In a first half that went back-and-forth with two ties and eight lead changes, ETSU closed things out on a 10-2 run to take a 38-31 lead into halftime.
Peterson and Buggs combined for 22 of the 38 first-half points as ETSU shot 42 percent (13-31) and went 8-of-9 at the free throw line. The Bucs held Western Carolina to 37 percent (11-30) in the opening 20 minutes.
Taking the momentum into the locker room, ETSU quickly lost it as the Catamounts opened the second half on a 19-6 run to take a 50-44 lead with 11:58 remaining. Western Carolina made eight of its first 11 shots to start the second half, while ETSU was 3-of-18.
The Bucs were only able to cut the gap to four before Western Carolina pushed it to 14, 66-52 with 4:14 showing on the clock. ETSU made it a seven-point game late but ran out of time as the Catamounts secured the nine-point win.
Western Carolina had five players score in double figures with Marcus Kell leading the way with 18 points and 17 rebounds.
ETSU wraps up its two-game road swing Saturday when the Bucs play at Chattanooga. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside McKenzie Arena.
