Western Carolina comes back to beat Mercer 60-52

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) James Sinclair scored 19 points to lead Western Carolina to a 60-52 comeback win over Mercer on Thursday night.

Western Carolina trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, but Sinclair scored seven of Mercer's 10 points to open the second half, during a 10-4 run, to take a 33-31 lead.

Mike Brown had 12 points and Rhett Harrelson added 11 for Western Carolina (9-11, 4-4 Southern). The Catamounts were 8 of 23 (34.8 percent) from the field in the first half and finished the game at 44.4 percent.

Darious Moten hit nine free throws and finished with 18 points for Mercer (11-10, 6-2). The Bears were held to 16 field goals on 54 attempts and saw their three-game winning streak snapped.

Lawrence Brown cut Mercer's deficit to 55-50 with 36 seconds left, but Sinclair answered with a dunk.

Mercer led 27-23 at the half behind Moten's 15 points.