CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Western Carolina men's basketball team begins the final two-game road swing of the regular season on Saturday as the Catamounts venture to Hawkins Arena for a 2 p.m. matchup against Mercer.
 
Saturday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with audio on the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m. with longtime play-by-play voice Gary Ayers on the call.
 
WCU is 15-13 overall and 8-7 in Southern Conference play following a thrilling 68-66 home win over ETSU on Wednesday. Tyler Harris came off the bench and led four players in double figures with 14 points. Vonterius Woolbright finished with 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, with Colin Granger also corralling six rebounds for a new career best, scoring 10 points in the win.
 
Mercer is 12-16 and 5-10 after a 70-67 setback at Wofford. Kamar Robertson tallied 14 points to lead the Bears and was joined in double figures by Michael Zanoni with 11 and Jalyn McCreary with 10. David Craig snagged a game-high eight rebounds.
 
The Catamounts enter the weekend in fourth place in the SoCon standings, a game ahead of fifth-place Chattanooga (7-8). Mercer is tied for eighth at 5-10 overall, a game out of the final transfer spot into Saturday's second round of the SoCon Tournament as ETSU and Wofford are tied for sixth at 6-9.
 
The Catamounts and Bears have met 26 previous times with the series tied at 13 apiece. WCU cruised to a 73-45 win in Cullowhee on Jan. 7, holding the Bears to a season-low offensively. Four of WCU's series wins have come in Macon, Ga.
 
WCU concludes the road portion of its schedule on Wednesday, traveling to second-place UNCG for 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).