- Matchup: Mercer Bears vs. Western Carolina Catamounts
- Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
- Venue: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, NC
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Western Carolina Catamounts (12-15) are set to clash with the Mercer Bears (18-11) on Wednesday at the Ramsey Center.
In their most recent game, the Mercer Bears triumphed over Samford, winning 89-86. The Bears achieved an impressive 64.0% shooting from the field (32 of 50) and sank 7 of 17 beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they converted 18 out of 25 attempts for a success rate of 72.0%. On the boards, Mercer gathered 31 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards. They also contributed 16 assists while forcing Samford into 6 turnovers and capturing 4 steals. Defensively, Mercer allowed Samford to shoot 46.9%, where they made 30 of 64 attempts. Conversely, Samford recorded 12 assists and came away with 7 steals while securing 26 rebounds (8 offensive, 18 defensive) and no blocks. Samford shot 87.0% from the charity stripe, making 20 out of 23 tries, along with hitting 6 of their 16 attempts from long range. The game saw Mercer commit 19 fouls compared to Samford’s 22.
Standout player Baraka Okojie played a pivotal role, finishing with a shooting percentage of 53.8% and adding 5 assists. He logged 34 minutes, pulling down 6 rebounds and scoring 25 points on 7 of 13 shooting.
Currently, Mercer stands at 18-11 for the season. The Bears average 83.3 points per game (41st in Division I) while shooting 46.1% from the field. They have succeeded on 34.6% of their three-point attempts (259 of 749) and have a free-throw percentage of 73.2%. As a team, Mercer averages 38.4 rebounds per contest and has provided 411 assists this year, ranking 128th nationally in assists. They turn the ball over 10.6 times per game and commit an average of 15.5 personal fouls each night.
On the defensive end, the Bears force an average of 12.8 turnovers per game while drawing 18.9 personal fouls. They are currently ranked 161st nationally for assists allowed, having given up 368 so far this season. Mercer permits opponents a shooting percentage of 43.2% (778 of 1,803) and concedes 36.1 rebounds per game collectively. They allow a 34.2% success rate on three-point attempts, ranking 229th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (75.3).
In their last game, the Western Carolina Catamounts claimed victory against VMI with a score of 81-62. On the rebounding front, Western Carolina limited VMI to just 25 total rebounds (4 offensive). The Catamounts recorded a shooting percentage of 37.9% from beyond the arc, netting 11 of 29 attempts, and shot 63.6% from the free-throw line (7 of 11). VMI managed to hit 22 of 56 shots from the field, achieving a percentage of 39.3%. When the buzzer sounded, Western Carolina completed 28 of 62 attempts from the field, translating to a shooting percentage of 45.2%. The Catamounts sunk 10 of 30 three-point attempts (33.3%) and were successful on 15 out of 17 free throws for an 88.2% success rate. VMI incurred 13 fouls during the game, sending Western Carolina to the charity stripe for 17 attempts. The Catamounts coughed up the ball 2 times while securing 3 steals, finishing with a total of 38 rebounds (30 defensive, 8 offensive).
Cord Stansberry shone for the Catamounts during this game, contributing 17 points in 35 minutes and recording 4 assists. He achieved a 60.0% shooting rate (6 out of 10) and secured 11 rebounds.
This season, Western Carolina holds a record of 12-15. The Catamounts average 19.5 personal fouls per game and shoot 70.7% from the charity stripe. They provide 13.4 assists per game (ranking 226th nationally) while averaging 11.5 turnovers. Western Carolina has put up 2,124 points this season (78.7 per game) and collects 38.7 rebounds per game. Offensively, the Catamounts shoot 44.6%, ranking 221st in Division 1.
Defensively, Western Carolina allows a 36.5% success rate on three-point shots (251 of 687), and opponents are hitting 75.1% of their free-throw attempts. They allow 13.1 assists and 33.0 rebounds per game, positioning them 157th and 91st in the country, respectively. Defensively, the Catamounts rank 300th nationwide in points surrendered per game at 78.3. They force 10.9 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 45.7% from the field (273rd in college basketball).
Who will cover the spread in this NCAA matchup tonight?
Pick: Back Western Carolina
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