Two puzzling teams look for a second-half reset as Booth and Faulkner lead the Bulldogs into Cullowhee.
Game Overview
A Saturday 1:00 PM SoCon men’s basketball matchup features two head-scratching teams in urgent need of a win.
Samford visits Western Carolina on Saturday, February 1, at 1:00 PM ET at the Ramsey Center, opening the second half of conference play for both programs. The midpoint of the season provides a fresh start for two of the most puzzling teams in the SoCon. Consistency is not a word that comes up often when describing the Bulldogs’ or the Catamounts’ seasons thus far.
Samford stumbles into this matchup after losing six of its last eight games, while Western Carolina has been one of the most curious teams in the league. Western was mired in a 9-loss stretch over its last 13 games until it preseeded to win its last two conference games – one over an awful VMI team but the most recent over first-place ETSU. Both Western and Samford can score, and both believe a lead is either to be blown or chipped away at – so, like all SoCon games, this will be an entertaining game to watch. Regardless of the outcome, you will likely be surprised.
Western Carolina has beaten the league’s top team, ETSU, twice, but has also lost to The Citadel and Chattanooga. Samford defeated the Catamounts in their first meeting, an 82–77 home win on January 7, as Western could not overcome Jaden Booth’s 33-point performance.
Matchup Information
- Game: Samford Bulldogs @ Western Carolina Catamounts
- Date / Time: January 31, 2026 • 1:00 PM ET
- Location: Ramsey Center
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Team Records and Recent Form
Samford Bulldogs
Samford enters at a miserable 10–12 overall and 3–6 in the SoCon, looking for a much-needed reset in the second half of conference play. The Bulldogs have a clear offensive rhythm and play with confidence on that end of the floor, with the half-court attack centered on Dylan Faulkner’s interior scoring and Booth’s perimeter shot-making—He’s got that dog in him. The backcourt is respectable, and ball movement is generally crisp.
The issue is depth. Injuries have shortened the rotation to roughly eight players, and bench scoring has been inconsistent. Defensively, Samford struggles with a lack of length, rim protection, and free-throw shooting—factors that make securing road wins difficult.
Western Carolina Catamounts
Western Carolina opens the second half of league play at 8–12 overall and 4–5 in conference, coming off a thrilling upset of ETSU that showcased the team’s maddening talent. With star guard Cord Stansberry lighting it up from the floor and Marcus Kell driving to the hoop for key buckets, the Catamounts outplayed, out-hustled, out-moxied, out-toughed, and outclassed the Buccaneers. Which version of this team shows up on Saturday remains anyone’s guess.
Rebounding has been Western Carolina’s consistent strength. Samuel Dada, Abdulai Fanta Kabba, and Marcus Kell are all formidable on the glass, often giving the Catamounts an edge over their SoCon opponents. With two wins over ETSU and another over Furman, Western cannot be overlooked as the second half of the conference season begins.
Offensively, turnovers have been a major issue this season, though they were well-managed in the last two games. Defensively, Western Carolina has struggled to guard without fouling, but that was not the case against ETSU on Thursday. When they control these two factors, they have the look of a top-four SoCon team.
Probable Starters
Samford Projected Starters
- Dylan Faulkner (F, Jr., 6’9”, 215): 17.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.7 APG
- Cade Norris (G, So., 6’4”, 200): 8.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.0 APG
- Keaton Norris (G, Sr., 6’0”, 175): 9.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.7 APG
- Jadin Booth (G, Sr., 6’2”, 185): 20.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG
- Isaiah Campbell-Finch (G, Fr., 6’0”, 165): 7.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.3 APG
Bench Contributors
- Jaxon Pollard (F, Sr., 6’7”, 225): 14.7 MPG, 32.6 FG%, 19.1 3P%
- Kam Martin (G, So., 6’4”, 175): 16.3 MPG, 40.8 FG%, 33.9 3P%
- Zion Wilburn (G, So., 6’5”, 190): 16.2 MPG, 29.3 FG%, 25.7 3P%
- Justin Bjornstad (F, So., 6’8”, 200): 9.5 MPG, 33.3 FG%, 30.0 3P%
- Will Shaver (C, So., 6’10”, 265): 9.1 MPG, 51.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%
Western Carolina Projected Starters
- Cord Stansberry (G, Jr., 6’4”, 180): 13.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG
- Marcus Kell (F, Jr., 6’8”, 213): 13.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 APG
- Abdulai Fanta Kabba (C, So., 7’0”, 235): 5.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.5 APG
- Julien Soumaoro (G, Sr., 5’11”, 175): 11.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.3 APG
- Tidjiane Dioumassi (G, Sr., 6’4”, 200): 6.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.1 APG
Bench Contributors
- Justin Johnson (F, So., 6’8”, 200): 15.4 MPG, 42.9 FG%, 27.3 3P%
- Samuel Dada (F, Fr., 6’9”, 225): 17.9 MPG, 73.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%
- CJ Hyland (G, So., 6’1”, 175): 14.8 MPG, 41.3 FG%, 43.8 3P%
- Tahlan Pettway (G, Fr., 6’2”, 165): 16.5 MPG, 39.6 FG%, 40.0 3P%
- Tayeshaun Smith (F, Fr., 6’7”, 220): 9.9 MPG, 45.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%
Matchup Analysis
Samford won the first matchup despite Dylan Faulkner being sidelined with an injury. Booth went unconscious from deep, while Will Shaver and Kam Martin provided key contributions off the bench. For Western Carolina, Stansberry, Soumaoro, and Kell all struggled again, while Samuel Dada and Justin Johnson were bright spots, combining for 30 points off the bench.
Do not expect Booth to suddenly forget how to shoot. With Faulkner back and healthier, that should neutralize Dada’s interior impact. Samford is difficult to deal with when Faulkner’s physicality pairs with Booth’s shot-making.
Western Carolina’s advantage lies with its bench, which offers scoring punch from Johnson, CJ Hyland, Tahlan Pettway, Dada, and even Tayeshaun Smith. Samford’s rotation remains thin, with only Martin serving as a reliable secondary scorer. Free-throw shooting is a major concern, particularly for Faulkner (53.3%) and Isaiah Campbell-Finch (52.0%).
This game should get chippy, loud, and entertaining. Faulkner remains a problem inside, and Booth remains fearless. For the Catamounts, if the ongoing turnover issues have been solved and the poor shooting is a thing of the past—this team will take advatage of Samford’s free-throw woes and lack of depth.
Betting Lines and Odds (DraftKings)
| Market | Samford | Western Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Currently not available | Currently not available |
| Total (Over/Under) | Currently not available | Currently not available |
| Moneyline | Currently not available | Currently not available |
Prediction and Final Score
- Pick: Western Carolina
- Final Score: Western Carolina 86, Samford 80
- Best Bet: Currently not available
- Confidence Level: Currently not available
