Western Carolina at East Tennessee State

Game Overview

Buckle up for a heated rivalry rematch in Johnson City. The East Tennessee State Buccaneers (15-6, 7-1 SoCon) host the Western Carolina Catamounts (7-12, 3-5 SoCon) at Freedom Hall. ETSU aims for revenge after a road loss on Jan 14 to the Catamounts. ETSU has dominated at home this season (11-1) with elite defense (66.9 PPG allowed, top-100 nationally), while WCU has struggled on the road (1-10), but packs offensive punch (77.2 PPG).

Date/Time: Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, TN (ETSU's home arena, capacity ~6,149)
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (check local listings for availability)
Radio: ETSU Sports Network and Western Carolina Sports Network
Odds (as of Jan 25): ETSU favored by 10.5 points; Over/Under ~145.5 (subject to change)

This matchup is the second meeting between these SoCon rivals in the 2025-26 season, with ETSU hosting after a road loss to the Cats earlier in January. The Buccaneers are rolling as conference frontrunners, while the Catamounts look to build on a recent blowout victory but face a tough road test.

Team Overviews and Standings

ETSU sits atop the leaderboard with a strong conference record. As of January 25, 2026:
East Tennessee State Buccaneers: 15-6 overall, 7-1 SoCon
Western Carolina Catamounts: 7-12 overall, 3-5 overall

ETSU leads the SoCon standings, and have been efficient offensively (78.1 PPG) and stout defensively (66.9 PPG allowed), ranking in the top third nationally in points allowed. Western Carolina struggles with consistency, averaging 77.2 PPG but allowing 80.8, leading to a -3.6 scoring margin. The Catamounts' poor road record (1-10) highlights their road woes.

Recent Performances

ETSU Buccaneers: Coming off a three-game win streak, including a dominant 29-point blowout in their last outing. They've won 4 of their last 5 overall and are undefeated in SoCon play at home. Earlier this season, they lost to Western Carolina 68-72 on the road on January 14, 2026. ETSU's free-throw shooting (.749) and rebounding have been key in tight games.

Western Carolina Catamounts: Fresh off an 88-58 rout of VMI on January 24, 2026—a 30-point SoCon victory that snapped a potential skid and boosted morale. However, they've dropped 7 of their last 10, with losses often coming on the road. Their offense clicked in the VMI win, but defensive lapses (allowing 80+ PPG) remain a concern.

Key Players to Watch

ETSU Buccaneers: Allen Strothers (G): Leads in assists (top in team with consistent playmaking) and is a floor general in transition. Maki Johnson (G): Scoring threat with range; averages double figures and contributes to the Bucs' efficient field goal percentage. Jaylen Smith (G): Versatile guard who impacts both ends; key in recent wins with steals and rebounds.

Western Carolina Catamounts: Vernon Collins (F): Averages solid points and rebounds; a presence inside who could exploit mismatches. Justin Johnson (G): Key perimeter player with scoring ability; needs to heat up from outside to keep pace. Abdulai Fanta Kabba (C): Anchors the frontcourt; his rebounding will be crucial against ETSU's physical style.

Head-to-Head History

ETSU holds a 52-39 all-time edge over Western Carolina, with a strong 32-9 home record in the series. However, the Catamounts have won 9 of the last 10 meetings overall, including a competitive stretch from 2024-2025, last beating the Bucs in Cullowhee, 72-68 in early January. Games are often close, with an average margin under 10 points in recent years.

Keys to the Game

For ETSU: Maintain home dominance by controlling the tempo and limiting WCU's second-chance opportunities. Their defense (top-50 nationally in points allowed) should stifle the Catamounts' inconsistent offense. Force turnovers and capitalize on free throws in a potentially physical rivalry game.

For Western Carolina: Improve road execution—cut down on fouls and improve shooting efficiency (currently ~44%). They'll need hot outside shooting to open up the paint and avoid ETSU's rebounding edge. Containing Strothers' playmaking will be critical to disrupt the Bucs' flow.

X-Factor: Rebounding battle—ETSU edges out opponents here, while WCU has been outrebounded in losses. Home crowd energy in Johnson City could play a big role.

ETSU enters as a favorite and could extend their win streak to four, completing the season sweep over the Cats. Expect a competitive first half, but the Bucs' depth and home advantage could prevail.

Tracking the Cats w/Athletic Director Kyle Pifer

 

MBB Alumni Day - January 31, 2026

 

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Cats Travel to Mercer - on The Road to Asheville

Game Overview

Western Carolina Catamounts (6-11, 2-4 SoCon) travel to Macon, Georgia, to face the Mercer Bears (12-7, 4-2 SoCon) in a Southern Conference matchup on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET at Hawkins Arena, with the game streaming on ESPN+.

Current Standings and Context

Both teams are in the middle of SoCon play, but Mercer enters as the hotter squad. The Bears are tied for second in the conference standings, riding a six-game winning streak that includes impressive road victories. Western Carolina, meanwhile, sits seventh in the SoCon and has struggled lately, dropping three of their last four games. The Catamounts are looking to build momentum after a gritty 72-68 home win over ETSU, but road woes (1-7 away record) could hinder them.

Team Overviews

Mercer Bears: The Bears have turned their season around with a dominant stretch, winning their last six games, including a 102-92 shootout at UNC Greensboro on January 17 and a 77-67 win at VMI on January 15. Their offense is clicking at 84.8 points per game, fueled by efficient shooting (46.4% FG) and strong rebounding. Defensively, they've held opponents to 74.5 points on average. At home, Mercer is undefeated (8-0), making them a tough out in Hawkins Arena.

Western Carolina Catamounts: The Catamounts have shown flashes of potential but lack consistency, with a -3.4 scoring margin overall. Their recent form includes a home loss to Chattanooga (90-82) on January 17, but they picked up a home win over unbeaten ETSU. Offensively, they average 77.2 points but shoot just 43.6% from the field, and their defense allows 80.6 points per game. Road games have been particularly challenging, with close losses like 82-77 at Samford and 79-77 at The Citadel highlighting their competitiveness but inability to close.

Key Players to Watch

Mercer:
Baraka Okojie (G, Jr.): Leads the team with 18.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 1.3 SPG. His playmaking and free-throw accuracy (85.1%) make him a matchup nightmare.

Armani Mighty (C, Sr.): A double-double machine at 13.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG, plus 1.8 BPG. His presence in the paint anchors the defense and rebounding.

Zaire Williams (G, Sr.): Adds 12.1 PPG with 35.3% from three, providing spacing and secondary scoring.

Western Carolina:
Marcus Kell (F, Sr.): Tops the scoring at 13.6 PPG with 4.5 RPG. His 31.1% three-point shooting stretches the floor.

Cord Stansberry (G, Sr.): Contributes 13.1 PPG and 2.1 APG, efficient from the line at 76.8%.
Julien Soumaoro (G, Gr.): Averages 11.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG, with 35.5% from deep for outside threats.

Samuel Dada (F): Leads in rebounding at 6.9 RPG, providing interior toughness.

Head-to-Head History
Western Carolina holds a slight all-time edge at 17-15, but Mercer has dominated recently, winning the last two meetings, including a narrow 67-66 victory on March 7, 2025, and an 81-69 win on January 3, 2025. The Bears are 7-6 at home against the Catamounts.

Key Matchups
Paint Battle: Mercer's Armani Mighty vs. Western Carolina's Samuel Dada. Mighty's rebounding and blocking could limit second-chance opportunities for the Catamounts.

Guard Play: Okojie's creation vs. Soumaoro and Dioumassi's defense. If Western Carolina can disrupt Okojie's rhythm, they might slow Mercer's offense.

Three-Point Shooting: Both teams rely on the arc (Mercer 35% 3FG, Western Carolina 31.3%), so the team that gets hot from deep could pull away.

Prediction
Mercer is the clear favorite with home-court advantage, superior form, and better efficiency on both ends. Expect the Bears to extend their win streak to seven, covering a projected spread of around 8-10 points.

BLACKOUT the Ramsey Center

BLACKOUT the Ramsey Center this Wednesday at 6 PM! 

Come check out the Air Elite Dunkers halftime show courtesy of WCU Residential Living and the first 400 students will receive a FREE blackout shirt. This game is being regionally televised on Nexstar courtesy of Ingles. See you at 6 PM on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. 

WEAR BLACK AND BE LOUD!

Tracking the Cats 1/8/2026

 

Cats Travel to The Citadel - on The Road to Asheville

 

Game OverviewThe Western Carolina Catamounts (5-9 overall, 1-2 SoCon) will face the Citadel Bulldogs (3-13 overall, 0-3 SoCon) in a Southern Conference matchup on January 10, 2026, at McAlister Field House in Charleston, South Carolina. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET, with the game streaming on ESPN+. This will be the second conference road game for Western Carolina in a week, while Citadellooks to snap a six-game losing streak and secure its first SoCon win of the season.
Team Summaries and Recent PerformanceWestern Carolina Catamounts: Coached by Tim Craft, the Catamounts have struggled with consistency this season, posting a -3.6 scoring margin and allowing 80.8 points per game (328th nationally). They shoot 43.9% from the field and 31.3% from three, while grabbing 40.5 reboundsper game (42nd nationally). Recent results show a team that's competitive in conference play but vulnerable on the road (1-8 away record). Their last five games: L 82-112 at Georgia (Dec 18), L 74-79 vs. Wofford (Dec 31), W 80-77 OT at Furman (Jan 3), L 77-82 at Samford (Jan 7). The overtime win at Furman highlights their resilience, but losses to stronger non-conference foes like Duke and Virginia Tech exposed defensive issues.
The Citadel Bulldogs: Under head coach Ed Conroy, the Bulldogs are in a rough patch, with a -9.0 scoring margin and allowing 78.5 points per game. They shoot 42.6% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc, but rebounding (33.8 per game) and turnovers (10.7 per game) have been weak spots. At home, they're 3-5, but their six-game skid includes heavy defeats like 63-101 at Mercer (Jan 7) and 86-95 vs. Wofford (Jan 3). Earlier wins came against lower-division teams like Erskine and Southern Wesleyan, but they've gone 0-20 straight up in their last 20 games against SoCon opponents. Recent form: L 56-80 at Richmond (Dec 20), L 49-74 vs. ETSU (Dec 30), L 86-95 vs. Wofford (Jan 3), L 63-101 at Mercer (Jan 7).Key Players to WatchWestern Carolina:

• Marcus Kell (F): Leads the team with 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, shooting 45.7% from the field
• Cord Stansberry (G): Averages 12.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, with a 30.4% three-point rate.
• Julien Soumaoro (G): Contributes 11.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.4 APG.
• Abdulai Fanta Kabba (C): Tops rebounding at 7.3 RPG and adds 1.1 BPG.

The Citadel:

• Braxton Williams (F): Team-high 11.7 PPG, shooting 39.5% overall and 36.9% from three.
• Christian Moore (G): Averages 10.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, with 36.7% from deep.
• Sola Adebisi (F): Leads in rebounds (5.5 RPG) and blocks (1.1 BPG).
• Eze Wali (G): Provides 2.3 APG and 1.1 SPG.

No major injury updates were reported as of January 8, 2026.Head-to-Head HistoryThe Citadel leads the all-time series 41-49, but Western Carolina has won 4 of the last 5 meetings. In the last 10 games, it's split 5-5. Western Carolina is 10-3 straight up in their last 13 road games against the Citadel, though the Bulldogs have a slight edge (6-4 in last 10 head-to-heads).
Western Carolina enters as the clear favorite, with AI models giving them a 67% win probability and a projected score of 70-66. Their superior rebounding and scoring depth should exploit Citadel's defensive struggles (allowing 90 PPG in last three games). Expect the Catamounts to cover as road favorites in a game that could push over the total due to both teams' recent high-scoring trends.
Final pick: Western Carolina