Recap: Western Carolina vs. Howard

Cancun, MX (Sports Network) - Tom Tankelewicz sank a pair of free throws in the final second to lift Western Carolina over Howard, 69-67, in the Mayan Division third place game of the Cancun Challenge.

Tankelewicz finished with 17 points and five assists, while Tawaski King added 19 points and Trey Sumler netted 17 for the Catamounts (2-4), who snapped a three-game slide.

Simuel Frazier scored a game-high 23 points for the Bison and tied the game at 67-67 with a layup in the closing seconds, but then fouled Tankelewicz to set up the deciding foul shots.

Prince Okoroh netted 17 points and Tre Lee poured in 14 for Howard (0-5), which remained winless on the season.

Western Carolina held a 30-27 lead at the break and opened the second half with an 11-4 push to jump ahead by double digits, 41-31.

Howard answered with a 9-1 run to close the gap to 42-40, but the Catamounts scored the next four points to regain some cushion.

Western Carolina was able to maintain at least a four-point lead from there until Frazier finished a three-point play and after a pair of free throws from Brandon Boggs, Lee drained a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left to make it a 65-63 game.

The Catamounts then went 2-for-4 from the charity stripe over the next two possessions before the Bison pulled even on Frazier's layup with nine seconds left.

But Frazier fouled Tankelewicz with one second left on the other end and he connected on both free throws for the win.

Tankelewicz's 3-pointer was the lone basket made through the first four-plus minutes of action until Frazier connected on a jumper to get Howard on the board.

After the Catamounts later took a 9-4 advantage on a Preston Ross dunk, Howard reeled off seven straight points to go on top, 11-9.

It remained a one-possession game from there until a 6-0 push by the Bison gave them a 22-17 lead with about six minutes left in the first half, but the Catamounts closed out the half with a 13-5 run to take a 30-27 edge into the break.