Western Carolina beats UNC Asheville71-59 behind Gibson

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Kameron Gibson hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points to lead four Catamounts in double figures and Western Carolina pulled away early to beat UNC Asheville 71-59 on Saturday to win the 52nd edition of the Mountain Rivalry.

Matt Halvorsen scored 14 points with three 3s, Marc Gosselin added 13 points and five assists and Onnon Steger had 10 points for Western Carolina (3-8), who handed the Bulldogs their eighth-straight loss.

Gosselin's layup put the Catamounts up for good 4-2 and was part of a 16-2 run. They steadily pulled ahead to a 41-21 halftime lead after holding the Bulldogs to 29 percent shooting and making 7 of 13 3-pointers.

Gibson's jumper with 8:28 left to play put Western Carolina up by 25 points and the Bulldogs got no closer than 12 from there.

Coty Jude scored 18 points with four 3-pointers and DeVon Baker and Tajion Jones scored 14 apiece for the Bulldogs (1-8), who shot 38 percent.