Feb. 1, 2008

Western Carolina vs. Appalachian State - Game Notes

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina will look to snap a seven-game slide to its arch-rival, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, this Saturday, Feb. 2 in the night cap of a Catamount basketball double-header in the Ramsey Center.

The Lady Catamounts host the Davidson Wildcats at 4:00 pm in a Southern Conference Cat-fight, with the men entertaining the Mountaineers at 7:03 pm in the Ramsey Center.

Both games will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network. The women's game will be heard on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee and online at www.WWCUFM.com. WWCU will also carry the men's game, with fans also being able to tune into 680 AM WRGC in Sylva (www.WRGC.com).

Fans can also follow the action with live GameTracker -- presented by CarolinaWest Sports Medicine and the WestCare Health System -- or with live streaming video, both available at www.CatamountSports.com. (subscription required for streaming video feed).

Scheduled for halftime of both games is the Bojangles' Wing Eating Contest, presented by Bojangles' of Sylva. The winner of the fastest wing-eating contest around will earn a catered party for their representing group, courtesy of Bojangles.

Western Carolina trails Appalachian State -- the oldest and longest running series in school history as the two schools will meet for the 157th time on the hardwood Saturday night -- in the all-time series 56-101. But, over half of WCU's series wins have come in Cullowhee as the Catamounts have a 35-42 record at home. ASU won all three meetings between the two a year ago, with Western's last win in the series coming in Cullowhee, 86-69, in late February of 2004 to complete the seasonal sweep of the Apps.

The Mountaineers (13-7, 8-3 SoCon) come to Cullowhee in second place in the Southern Conference's North Division, a game behind the Chattanooga Mocs who lead the division. Appalachian, which has three players averaging double-digit scoring, has won eight of its last nine games entering Saturday.

Western has played its best basketball at home this year as five of its six victories have come inside the friendly confines of the Ramsey Center.

The Catamounts are led by a pair of sophomores in leading scorer, Brandon Giles (14.8 ppg) and the sharp-shooting Jake Robinson (9.8 ppg). Giles has posted double-digit scoring in 11-consecutive games -- and in 13 of his past 14 outings. Senior Negus McKenna is the hottest of all the Catamounts having connected on 75-percent of his 3-point shots in the past three games. He has made 15 of his last 20 attempts, including a career-high eight in the home win over Elon and a perfect 5-for-5 at Wofford.

Tip-off for the women's game is set for 4:00 pm, with the men to begin at 7:03 pm in the Ramsey Center.