Cullowhee, N.C. – Following a grueling three-game road stretch that featured a pair of ACC opponents and three around the national Top 25 rankings, Western Carolina men's basketball returns home for the first time in nearly a month for a matchup against Bellarmine in the second half of its two-game venture in the ASUN-Southern Conference Challenge. Tip-off on Wednesday (Dec. 4) is set for 7 p.m. on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
WCU battled Queens University of Charlotte in its first meeting in the 2024 ASUN-SoCon Challenge, falling to the Royals, 67-54 back on Nov. 8. Bellarmine comes to Cullowhee having dropped a 76-71 decision to VMI on Nov. 9 in its scheduled Challenge opener. The SoCon has won six of the first 10 meetings played in the challenge with all but Mercer – which hosts West Georgia on Wednesday – having played at least one of its scheduled matchups.
This scheduling agreement announced back in mid-July responds 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 will feature attractive matchups across both rounds, providing a memorable experience and a new level of excitement to the fans of all 22 schools.
Wednesday's tilt between the Catamounts and Knights will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Live streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network and live stats are also available at CatamountSports.com. Fans can also listen to the game locally on 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC, "The River" in Sylva (www.wrgc.com).
Matchup: Bellarmine (2-6) vs Western Carolina (2-4)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 4
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: ESPN+ (paid subscription required)
Live Audio: Catamount Sports Network
Radio: 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC "The River" (wrgc.com)
Twitter: @CatamountMBB
About Western Carolina:
The Catamounts return to the friendly confines of Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center for their first home game since Nov. 13. WCU welcomes Bellarmine out of Louisville, Ky., for the second of two scheduled matchups as part of the ASUN-SoCon Challenge.
Last time out, senior forward Bernard Pelote led the way with 13 points and eight rebounds, but Western Carolina could not overcome a late first-half burst from #10/11 Marquette as the Golden Eagles claimed a 94-62 victory last Saturday at the Fiserv Forum. Sophomore Jamar Livingston joined Pelote in double figures with 10 points off the bench.
WCU has been well-tested to begin the 2024-25 season, the first under veteran head coach Tim Craft. Per the NET strength of schedule (SOS) rankings released for the first time this season on Monday, the Catamounts have played the 10th toughest schedule – just three behind North Carolina (No. 7) and just ahead of Baylor (11) and West Virginia (12). The next highest SoCon team in the latest ranking is Furman at 116.
In the opening six games of the 2024-25 season, Western Carolina has averaged a SoCon-best 42 rebounds per game led by Pelote at 8.0 per game. He ranks second in the SoCon and tops the league with 6.33 defensive rebounds per outing.
Scouting the Opposition:
Bellarmine enters Wednesday night's clash with a 2-6 record. The Knights dropped an 86-70 decision on Saturday to Northern Kentucky that snapped a two-game seasonal win streak, and has victories over Bowling Green (80-68) and Midway (101-60). Bellarmine already played VCU, Marshall, and Louisville while also squaring off with VMI in the opening game of the ASUN-SoCon Challenge in the young season.
Junior forward Jack Karasinski leads the Knights, averaging 16.9 points per game. Karasinski has scored 11 or more points in all seven games in which he's played, scoring a season-high 24 against VMI. The William & Mary transfer sits among the national leaders with an eye-popping 61.2% (41-of-67) field goal percentage to lead the Bellarmine offensive attack while also being efficient from deep at 46.7% (14-of-30).
Redshirt junior guard Ben Johnson checks in with 12.9 points per game as he posted a season-high against Louisville with 29 points on 6-of-11 threes. Johnson has made a team-high 18 threes thus far for the Knights. Junior guard Billy Smith rounds out the double-figure averaging 11.6 points game with a season-high 18 against Bowling Green. Redshirt junior forward Curt Hopf leads the Knights, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, including a team-high 11 on the offensive glass. Hopf pulled down a season-high 11 against Bowling Green. Graduate forward Dylan Branson has a team-high 21 assists, while Smith has totaled 12 steals thus far.
Bellarmine – the only private NCAA Division I university in Kentucky that reclassified officially in August 2024 – was picked 10th in the 12-team ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and 11th in the Media Poll. Ben Johnson was one of 10 players honored on the league's preseason All-ASUN team, which was announced with the league's polls. The Knights are led by Scott Davenport, who is in his 20th season at the helm for Bellarmine, who guided the team to an 8-23 season in 2023-24 which included a 4-12 ASUN mark. The 2024-25 season marks the first year the Knights are full NCAA DI members.
Series History:
Wednesday's clash with the Knights marks just the second all-time meeting in the two programs' histories. The first meeting took place in December 1966 when the Catamounts earned an 86-80 win over Bellarmine in Quincy, Ill. The Catamounts look to earn a win over 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.
Up Next for Western Carolina:
The Catamounts return to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Saturday, Dec. 7, with a matchup against USC Upstate in nonconference action. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. WCU looks to carry momentum from last year's meeting in Spartanburg which saw Western Carolina tally the 70-53 win over the Spartans. The game will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live audio coverage through the Catamount Sports Network available on 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC "The River" in Sylva and streaming LIVE through CatamountSports.com. Live stats are also available on CatamountSports.com.
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).
2024 ASUN-SoCon Challenge Schedule & Results
ROUND 1 – SoCon 5 Wins | ASUN 4 Wins
Nov. 4 - FGCU @ UNCG – UNCG won 73-64
Nov. 8 - Eastern Kentucky @ ETSU – EKU won 82-78
Nov. 8 - Western Carolina @ Queens – Queens won 67-54
Nov. 9 - VMI @ Bellarmine – VMI won 76-71
Nov. 9 - Wofford @ Lipscomb – Lipscomb won 79-68
Nov. 11 - Stetson @ The Citadel – The Citadel won 74-52
Nov. 11 - Jacksonville @ Furman – Furman won 78-69
Nov. 11 - Chattanooga @ Austin Peay – Austin Peay won 67-61
Nov. 15 - Samford @ North Alabama – Samford won 97-96 (OT)
Dec. 4 - West Georgia @ Mercer
ROUND 2 – SoCon 1 Win
Dec. 1 - North Alabama @ Wofford – Wofford 74-54
Dec. 3 - Lipscomb @ Chatanooga
Dec. 4 - Bellarmine @ Western Carolina
Dec. 4 - Furman @ FGCU
Dec. 7 - Queens @ VMI
Dec. 8 - Austin Peay @ Samford
Dec. 8 - Mercer @ Stetson
Dec. 14 - ETSU @ Jacksonville
Dec. 14 - UNCG @ North Florida
Dec. 16 - The Citadel @ Central Arkansas
