- Matchup: Samford Bulldogs vs Western Carolina Catamounts
- Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Venue: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, NC
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Samford Bulldogs (10-11) are set to face off against the Western Carolina Catamounts (7-12) at the Ramsey Center this Saturday.
In their most recent outing, the Samford Bulldogs secured a 75-64 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs. During this match, the Bulldogs were called for 19 fouls, while Chattanooga incurred 27. Samford converted 10 of 26 three-point attempts, while Chattanooga finished the game with a free throw shooting percentage of 66.7%, going 14 for 21. In terms of rebounding, Chattanooga amassed 32 boards (5 offensive, 27 defensive) but did not record a block. They also registered 13 assists and had 1 steal. Defensively, Samford allowed the opposing team to shoot 41.7%, with Chattanooga hitting 20 of 48 shots. The Bulldogs assisted 13 times, created 7 turnovers, and recorded 6 steals. They accumulated a total of 33 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards. At the free-throw line, Samford converted 23 of 36 attempts for a shooting percentage of 63.9%. Samford concluded the game with a field goal percentage of 40.4%, making 21 of their 52 shots, and 10 out of 29 from beyond the arc.
Key player Jadin Booth played a pivotal role, shooting 56.3% from the field and dishing out 3 assists. He logged 40 minutes on the floor, secured 3 rebounds, and tallied 28 points on 9 of 16 shooting.
Entering this match, the Bulldogs hold a record of 10-11 for the current season. They average 77.4 points per game, ranking 163rd nationally, while shooting 43.6% from the field. Samford has made 33.7% of their three-point attempts (199 of 591) and 67.3% from the charity stripe. On average, they secure 36.3 rebounds per game and have achieved 318 assists this season, placing them 118th nationally in assists. They lose possession through 8.7 turnovers per game and commit 15.9 fouls on average.
Defensively, the Bulldogs force 9.2 turnovers per game while drawing 20.1 fouls. They rank 148th in the nation for assists allowed, conceding 270 this season. Samford gives up a shooting percentage of 44.7% (569 of 1,274) and averages 37.3 rebounds per game. They allow 37.1% on three-pointers and rank 250th in college basketball for opponents’ points per game at 76.3.
In their last matchup, the Western Carolina Catamounts triumphed with a score of 88-58 against VMI. The Catamounts gathered 27 defensive rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds, totaling 44 boards. They committed 4 turnovers while earning 6 steals. VMI committed 5 fouls, allowing Western Carolina only 3 free throw attempts, converting 1 for a percentage of 33.3%. From beyond the arc, Western Carolina succeeded on 13 out of 32 attempts (40.6%). Overall, the Catamounts finished with a shooting percentage of 51.4%, making 37 of 72 shots. They held VMI to 21 out of 53 (39.6%). Additionally, Western Carolina shot 36.7% on three-pointers (11 out of 30) and was 5 for 6 at the free-throw line (83.3%). Defensively, the Catamounts allowed VMI to grab 18 rebounds (4 offensive).
Marcus Kell was a standout for the Catamounts, hitting 7 of 13 shots for a shooting percentage of 53.8%, and securing 4 rebounds. He netted 18 points across 26 minutes of play along with 1 assist.
Currently, Western Carolina holds a season record of 7-12. The Catamounts commit 19.6 personal fouls per game and convert 69.1% of their free-throw attempts. They assist teammates 13.5 times per game (228th nationally) and turn it over 12.7 times per game. Western Carolina has scored a total of 1,476 points this season (averaging 77.7 per game) while collecting 39.9 rebounds per outing. Offensively, they shoot 44.3% from the field, ranking 247th in the nation.
The Catamounts’ defense ranks 320th in college for points allowed per game, averaging 79.8. They force opponents into 11.2 turnovers per game and have permitted teams to shoot 45.7% from the floor (278th in college basketball). Their defense holds opponents to 37.2% from three-point land (186 of 500), while allowing 73.2% shooting from the free-throw line. They give up 13.6 assists and average 33.9 total rebounds per game, placing them 194th and 150th respectively in Division 1.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Back Western Carolina
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