Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina men's basketball takes its first road trip of the 2024-25 regular season on Friday with a trip to the Queen City to battle Queens University (1-0) in the opening matchup of the newly formed ASUN-SoCon Challenge. Tip-off on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Curry Arena in Charlotte.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network (6:30 p.m. air time) and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
On Thursday afternoon, the Catamounts announced the addition of a nonconference matchup against Florida State for November 26th at 7 p.m. from Tallahassee. This matchup was originally slated for Asheville on November 27th but was moved due to the effects of Hurricane Helene in the Asheville area. Read about all the details for this nonconference battle against the Seminoles. LINK
Matchup: Western Carolina (1-0) at Queens (1-0)
Date: Friday, Nov. 8
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Site: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Live Video: ESPN+ (paid subscription required)
Live Audio: Catamount Sports Network (click link to listen)
Twitter: @CatamountMBB
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About Western Carolina:
The Catamounts embark on their first road trip to Charlotte on Friday after opening the Tim Craft era with a 39-point victory over Bob Jones University back on Monday. WCU battles the Queens University Royals on Friday night, the first of two matchups for WCU in the ASUN-SoCon Challenge.
The Catamounts were led on Monday by redshirt sophomore forward Marcus Kell who poured in 16 points during his first live game action since February 25th, 2023. The Rock Hill, S.C. native connected on 5-of-6 field goals in the win. He was joined in double figures by redshirt junior Chase McKey with 13 points (6-of-6 FGs) and eight rebounds, along with 11 points apiece from redshirt sophomore Cord Stansberry and junior Brandon Morgan.
In the contest, the Catamounts racked up 26 assists, led by a trio of players with four apiece. Ten players dished out an assist, marking the most helpers in a game since Nov. 17, 2018, when WCU totaled 29 against Hiwassee.
WCU saw 11 players make their debuts for the Purple & Gold, including freshman CJ Hyland, redshirt freshman Brandon White, redshirt sophomore Cinque Lemon, freshman Fischer Brown, and redshirt freshman Kamari Jones, each making their collegiate debuts.
The Southern Conference and Athletic Sun Conference announced a two-year scheduling alliance for men's basketball back in the summer. Each SoCon team will play two games against ASUN opponents through this alliance, which will occur in early November and December. The agreement came in response to the emphasis placed on NET rankings for postseason prospects and an ever-changing landscape in college athletics, which, for many, has made it difficult to fill a 30-game schedule with quality opponents. The men's basketball scheduling alliance features attractive matchups across both rounds, providing a memorable experience and a new level of excitement to the fans of all 22 schools.
Scouting the Opposition:
Queens (1-0) began 2024-25 with a convincing 90-39 victory on Monday over Division III opposition Lynchburg. The Royals are looking to build off a 14-19 record that included a 7-9 mark in the ASUN a season ago. Queens claimed a tight 83-80 win over Gardner-Webb, which now-current WCU head coach Tim Craft led.
Queens defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the opening round of the conference tournament last year before falling in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Stetson.
In Monday's victory, junior Nasir Mann led the way with a double-double as he poured in 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three steals, going 6-of-8 from the field. Freshman Yoav Berman finished with 13 points, graduate student Leo Colimerio with 12, and senior Chris Ashby with 11 to round out the double-figure scoring. Graduate student Malcolm Wilson paced Queens on the glass with 12 boards as the Royals pulled down 55 rebounds as a team in the win.
Friday marks the first of multiple matchups with the SoCon as Queens is also set to battle ETSU, VMI, and Mercer, with the contest against the Keydets serving as the second tilt in the ASUN-SoCon challenge.
Queens was tabbed ninth in the 12-team ASUN Preseason Media Poll. The Royals are led by Grant Leonard, who's in his third season at the helm in Charlotte.
Series History:
Western Carolina has claimed the only prior meeting between the two schools. The Catamounts and Royals meet on the men's basketball hardwood for the first time since Dec. 11, 1999, when WCU earned a 92-83 victory over Queens in Cullowhee. The Catamounts battle a school out of the ASUN Conference for the second straight year as Western Carolina grabbed an 81-63 home victory over North Alabama a season ago.
The Catamounts return home for the final time this month on Wednesday, Nov. 13th, for a 7 p.m. tip with NAIA foe Truett McConnell out of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Wednesday's matchup with the Bears will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network and live stats available on CatamountSports.com. Tickets for Wednesday's action are available through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 2272-401, or online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
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).
