CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts venture to Mercer for a 2 p.m. tip-off at Hawkins Arena.

The game between the Bears and Catamounts is the "Ingles SoCon Game of the Week" and will be broadcast throughout the league's six-state footprint across a network of Nexstar stations. Nexstar affiliates airing games include: WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville), WMUB (Macon), and WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke) (check local listings for availability). The game can also be seen on ESPN+ (subscription required). WSPA Sports Director Pete Yanity will provide play-by-play and 20-year coaching veteran Dean Keener will serve as the color analyst.

Audio coverage of Saturday's game is available on the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m.

WCU had its last four games (Jan. 2 vs. The Citadel, Jan. 6 vs. Furman, Jan. 9 at Samford, Jan. 13 vs. UNCG) postponed due to COVID-19 protocols and the NCAA return-to-sport guidelines. The Catamounts enter Saturday's game at 7-3 overall and 0-1 in Southern Conference action after dropping their league opener 86-78 at ETSU on Dec. 30.

Mercer is 7-4 overall and 0-3 in league games following an 83-80 loss at Chattanooga on Wednesday. The Mocs erased Mercer's 19-point first-half lead to rally for the victory. Redshirt senior Ross Cummings leads five Bears averaging double figures with 17.1 points per game while redshirt junior Felipe Haase is the top rebounder with 9.5 rebounds per game.

Saturday's game is the 21^st all-time meeting with the series deadlocked at 10 games apiece. The teams split the regular season matchups last season with WCU earning a 79-71 win at home and Mercer protecting its home court with an 85-79 victory. The Catamounts defeated the Bears 70-56 in the quarterfinal round of the Ingles Southern Conference Tournament presented by General Shale in Asheville.

WCU remains on the road, traveling to Samford on Monday at 3 p.m. Eastern in a makeup game originally scheduled for Jan. 9.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount basketball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountMBB).