CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina men's basketball continues its tough stretch of three games in six days on Wednesday, looking to bounce back as it heads to Southern Conference-leading Chattanooga. Tip-off at the McKenzie Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Wednesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required) with live Catamount Sports Network audio coverage commencing at 6:30 p.m., streaming online at CatamountSports.com and can be heard locally on 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC, The River and online at WRGC.com.
WCU is 9-16 overall and 3-9 in the SoCon after a 68-49 home setback to UNCG on Monday night. After being named the SoCon Player of the Week earlier in the day,
Nicholas Robinson led the Catamounts with 20 points, eclipsing the 1,000-career point milestone in the first half.
Cam Bacote also finished in double figures with 10 points and distributed a team-best four assists.
Chattanooga earned its 20th win of the season as A.J. Caldwell drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in overtime for a 74-72 win at Mercer. Avery Diggs led the Mocs with 21 points with double-figure contributions from David Jean-Baptiste (15), Malachi Smith (15), and Darius Banks (10). The top-shooting team in the SoCon, UTC's Smith leads the league in scoring at 20.6 points per game – 13th-best in the NCAA. Jean-Baptiste, who did not play in the first meeting against the Catamounts, ranks 10th in the league in scoring at 15.0 ppg.
The Catamounts and Mocs have met 98 previous times with Chattanooga leading the all-time series 68-30. WCU defended its home court on Jan. 12, earning a 70-59 upset victory over the league's preseason favorite. The Catamounts have won six of the last nine in the series since 2018. Although WCU is 6-38 all-time in games played in the Scenic City, the Catamounts have won two of their last three visits to McKenzie Arena.
WCU remains on the road this weekend, traveling to Wofford on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
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).
