Cullowhee, N.C. – Basketball returns to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Thursday, April 9, for one fulfilling event as Western Carolina University hosts its second annual "Unite UP" basketball game, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members to celebrate connection and the University Participant (UP) Program.
 
Ramsey Center doors open at 6 p.m. with tipoff slated for 7 p.m. This year's game will have a live stream through WCU's student-run "Whee TV" YouTube channel. The event is free and open to the public. Everyone on campus and in the local community is welcome and encouraged to attend to support these students and WCU student-athletes.
 
"Unite UP" was first launched in 2025 and immediately made an impact on the campus community, helping raise visibility for the University Participant Program, a two-year, on-campus living and learning experience, postsecondary program at WCU. The event is designed to enhance WCU's campus culture and promote inclusivity.
 
UP Program students become Catamount student-athletes as they take the court inside the Liston B. Ramsey Center for a basketball game alongside and cheered on by their peers. Teams will feature a mixture of WCU student-athletes and UP students, with WCU men's basketball head coach Tim Craft and women's basketball head coach Jonathan Tsipis leading the squads.
 
Additionally, this year, WCU Director of Athletics Kyle Pifer and Catamount head football coach Kerwin Bell will serve as special guest referees. Last season, former Catamount men's basketball player – and current president and CEO of Champion Credit Union – Jake Robinson and his wife, and WCU alum, Olivia, served as the referees in the inaugural game.
 
The event consists of many behind-the-scenes efforts of WCU students, faculty, and staff to create an event rooted in intention and connection.
 
Started as a pilot program in 2007 and federally funded in 2010, WCU's University Participant program became the first-ever officially accredited inclusive post-secondary program in the country through the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation (IHEA) Council in 2023. WCU's program works under the guiding principles of raising expectations, providing opportunity, and transforming outcomes.
 
Learn more about WCU's UP Program by clicking here.