Looking to win their first game against a division I opponent this season, Liberty hosted the Western Carolina Catamounts in the Vines Center last night. This morning, they’re still searching for that first win against their own level of competition, after losing 68-63 to the Catamounts.
After trading buckets for about 9 minutes, the Catamounts began to pull away from the Flames. A Joel Vander Pol free throw pulled Liberty within 4, with the Catamounts up 16-12. Over the following couple of minutes, missed shots by Davon Marshall and John-Caleb Sanders were answered by 6 points off of 4 offensive rebounds by the Catamounts’ Mike Brown and Justin Browning, putting WCU up 22-12.
The Catamounts pushed their lead to 29-17 on a layup by Tom Tankelewicz with 3:32 left in the half. They went up by 12 again, on a layup by Tankelewicz, before the Flames went on a little run to finish off the period to make it 33-26.
The Flames outscored the Catamounts 37-35 in the second half, cutting the visitors’ lead as low as 2, but it was too little too late. The Catamounts stayed in control and finished off the win with last second free throws by Trey Sumler.
Tom Tankelewicz led the Catamounts past the Flames (photo from catamountsportsblog.blogspot.com)
Neither team shot particularly well, Liberty shooting 36.8 percent and Western Carolina 36.7. The difference proved to be Catamount senior sharp-shooter Tom Tankelewicz. Tankelewicz scored 13 of his 23 points, connecting on 3 of his 4 three-pointers, in the second half. Tawaski King added 10 points and 5 rebounds for the Catamounts, who improve to 3-2 on the year.
Liberty, who drops to 1-2, was led by Davon Marshall’s 13 points. John-Caleb Sanders chipped in 12 points and 4 assists, and Antwan Burrus scored 10 and grabbed 6 boards.
Next up for the Flames is a home game against UNC Wilmington on November 18 at 7 pm.
