ANCHORAGE – Freshman Harouna Mutombo notched a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double Saturday to push Western Carolina past Northern Illinois, 71-67, for fourth place in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

Forward Jake Robinson added 15 points, including the game-clinching free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining, and seven rebounds for the Catamounts (3-2).

Guard Darion Anderson led the Huskies (3-4) with 15 points and five assists, but the sophomore standout was forced into 3-of-14 shooting and five turnovers.

The Catamounts led 34-27 at halftime before NIU came out with a 16-2 run after the break, going ahead 43-36 on a Michael Patton three-pointer with 13:34 remaining. The Huskies still led 57-49 with 6 minutes left before the Catamounts mounted their winning surge.

Mutombo, who shot 10 of 17 and dished three assists, brought his team within 60-59 on a fast-break layup at the 3:45 mark, and Robinson would give the Southern Conference squad the lead for good with a free throw at the 3-minute mark.

NIU’s Tyler Storm banked in a long three-pointer with 11 seconds left to cut it to 68-66, but the Huskies never got a shot to tie the game in the waning seconds.

Center Sean Kowal scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting for NIU, adding a team-high seven rebounds.

Standout swingman Brandon Giles was the Catamounts’ third double-digit scorer with 13 points on 5-of-8 marksmanship (3-4 3FG).

NIU finished the tourney with a 1-2 mark to place sixth.