CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Coming off a three-game road swing, the Western Carolina men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. contest against Samford in the front end of a basketball doubleheader with the Catamount women's team.
 
Promotions for Saturday's game include the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Community Day with discounted tickets available for EBCI members. It's also Youth Basketball Day, presented by First Citizens Bank, with area youth basketball players seventh-grade and younger receiving FREE admission when wearing their jerseys to the game.
 
Saturday marks the season debut of "Purple Thunder," the winter drumline of WCU's Pride of the Marching Band, which will perform at halftime. Additionally, WCU's All-SoCon Faculty/Staff winners over the past two years will be honored in a special on-court recognition.
 
Admission to the game between Catamounts and Bulldogs is $11 for adults and $6 for youth 12 and under. Kids 2 and under get in free. WCU students gain free admission to the game by showing their Cat Card at the Northwest Entrance and are encouraged to sit in the Cat Cage student section located in sections QR.
 
A reminder that approved face coverings that properly cover the nose and mouth are required to be worn at all times within WCU campus buildings including the Ramsey Center when not actively eating or drinking. Fans are also asked to physically distance with arena seating limited to every other row inside the Ramsey Center. Additionally, fans are asked to leave two seats between their party and others. See WCU's Updated Spectator Policies for Home Basketball Games for more information and review WCU's Clear Bag policy and game day parking maps located in the right column.
 
WCU is 8-13 overall and 2-6 in Southern Conference games after a 68-66 defeat at the hands of The Citadel on Wednesday night in Charleston. Marlow Gilmore led the Catamounts with a career-best 14 points while Marcus Banks tabulated his first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, all coming on the defensive glass.
 
Samford is 12-8 and 2-6 after a 75-61 home win over Mercer on Saturday, marking the first Bulldog win over Mercer since 2002. Ques Glover led four Bulldogs in double figures with 20 points. The Knoxville, Tenn., native leads the team and is fourth in the SoCon in scoring with an average of 18.0 points per game.
 
WCU continues to lead the all-time series over Samford, 14-13, following an 85-60 Samford victory in Alabama back on Jan. 8. Saturday is the first trip to Cullowhee for Samford since the 2019-20 season when the Bulldogs lost 109-78 on Feb. 26 in WCU's home finale. Last season, Samford defeated the Catamounts 82-78 in Birmingham before the matchup at WCU was postponed and eventually canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Catamounts are 11-2 all-time against Samford at home.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on regional Nexstar affiliates as well as on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live Catamount Sports Network audio coverage commencing at 1:30 p.m., streaming online at CatamountSports.com and can be heard locally on 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC, The River. Nexstar stations slated to carry the game include WYCW/The CW 62 (Asheville/Greenville/Spartanburg), WWCW/The CW Virginia (Lynchburg/Roanoke), and WMYT/My 12 (Charlotte).
 
The Catamounts remain at home, welcoming ETSU to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook fb.com/catamountsports, Instagram @catamountmbb @wcu_catamounts, and Twitter @CatamountMBB @catamounts.