Feb. 7, 2008

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) - Louis Graham scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Georgia Southern to a 72-63 win over Western Carolina on Thursday night.

Western Carolina (7-16 overall, 3-10 Southern Conference) tied the game for the last time at 48-48 on Eric Wilson's basket with 9:50 left to play. Georgia Southern (16-8, 9-5) then used a 5-0 run to take the lead for good, with Antoine Johnson's basket with 8:32 left extending the lead to 53-48.

Brigham Waginger hit three 3-pointers in the closing minutes for Western Carolina to keep the Catamounts in the game. The third came with 1:50 left to cut the margin to 66-63, but Western Carolina could come no closer.

Brandon Giles scored 22 points to lead Western Carolina. Johnson had 16 for Georgia Southern.