CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a frantic Southern Conference clash that came down to the final seconds, the Western Carolina Catamounts edged the Mercer Bears 78-74 on Wednesday night at Ramsey Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,970, was a tale of two high-powered offenses and a dramatic closing sequence that saw the lead change hands three times in the final minute. The victory improved Western Carolina to 13-15 overall, while Mercer fell to 18-12.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the game’s last 58 seconds. With the score tied at 71, Western Carolina’s Cord Stansberry found Tidjiane Dioumassi for a clutch 3-pointer, giving the Catamounts a 74-71 lead. Mercer’s Baraka Okojie answered with two pressure free throws to cut the deficit to one.

On the ensuing possession, Dioumassi struck again, hitting a difficult stepback jumper to push the lead back to three at 76-73 with 37 seconds left. Mercer then committed a costly turnover, and after a series of timeouts, Western Carolina’s Samuel Dada was fouled and made two critical free throws with 11 seconds remaining to seal the four-point victory.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout. Mercer held a narrow 32-33 deficit at halftime despite a strong first-half performance from Okojie. The second half saw both teams elevate their scoring, with Western Carolina putting up 45 points and Mercer answering with 42, but the Catamounts made the necessary plays in the final minute.

Stansberry, a guard from Bermuda Dunes, California, led all scorers and was the catalyst for Western Carolina. He finished with 21 points and four assists, including the assist on the go-ahead 3-pointer to Dioumassi and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the free-throw line in the final minutes.

Okojie, a guard from Brampton, Canada, kept Mercer in the game with a team-high 22 points. His backcourt mate, Zaire Williams of Brooklyn, New York, added 13 points. Mercer’s interior presence, Armani Mighty of Toronto, provided 16 points and a game-high defensive effort with multiple rebounds and blocks.

Western Carolina’s frontcourt also delivered significant contributions. Marcus Kell of Fort Mill, South Carolina, scored 18 points, often answering Mercer baskets with key scores of his own. Dioumassi, from Paris, France, scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, including the two pivotal late baskets. Tahlan Pettway of Worcester, Massachusetts, added 15 points and several key defensive plays.

The game was a contrast to the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 21, which Mercer won 88-76. This time, Western Carolina executed down the stretch, overcoming a pregame projection that favored the Bears. The total score of 152 fell well under the over/under line of 160.5, largely due to a slower-paced and tense final few minutes.

Defensive stands were crucial. Western Carolina’s Samuel Dada, from Lagos, Nigeria, contributed two blocks, including a critical one in the final 20 seconds, and made the game-sealing free throws despite scoring only two points. Mercer’s Connor Serven also had a key block and steal in the second half as both teams fought for every possession.

The result creates momentum for Western Carolina as it prepares to host Furman on Saturday in its regular-season finale. Mercer, which had won three of its last four, will look to rebound at home against East Tennessee State, also on Saturday.