ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Trey Sumler scored 27 points to lead No. 6 seed Western Carolina to a 76-61 victory over the Citadel in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament Friday night.
James Sinclair had 14 points and Tom Tankelewicz 11 for the Catamounts (14-18), who have won two straight and will face No. 3 seed College of Charleston on Saturday.
Mike Groselle and Matt Van Scyoc scored 13 points for The Citadel (8-22).
The Citadel led 18-17 on Groselle's layup with 10:17 left in the first half, but Western Carolina scored the next nine points for a 26-18 advantage. Sumler scored the Catamount's final eight points of the half to lead 34-25 at the break.
Western Carolina pushed the advantage to 42-28 on Tankelewicz's 3-pointer 2:13 into the second half, and the closest the Bulldogs got the rest of the way was seven points at 44-37 with 14:59 remaining.
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