Samford Bulldogs Defeat Western Carolina Catamounts 88-74
Sunday, February 1, 2026, 1:00 PM ET · Ramsey Center
Samford Bulldogs 88, Western Carolina Catamounts 74, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Samford Bulldogs vs Western Carolina Catamounts?
Samford Bulldogs beat Western Carolina Catamounts 88-74 at Ramsey Center on February 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Samford Bulldogs vs Western Carolina Catamounts?
Western Carolina Catamounts were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -112 (about 53% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup, the Samford Bulldogs triumphed over the Western Carolina Catamounts with a final score of 88-74 at the Ramsey Center. This victory marks Samford's continued dominance over Western Carolina, extending their head-to-head record to 4-0 in recent meetings. The Bulldogs' win comes after a challenging stretch, as they had lost their previous game against the Furman Paladins, but they managed to rebound effectively in this contest.
The Bulldogs entered the game with an away record of 11-12 and a recent form of 4-6 over their last ten games, averaging 78.0 points scored and allowing 74.4 points per game. Their last five games had seen them struggle, with a record of 1-4 and an average of 74.8 points scored while allowing 76.6. In contrast, the Catamounts had a home record of 8-13 and were 4-6 in their last ten games, averaging 79.8 points scored and 82.1 points allowed. They were riding a two-game winning streak into this match, having recently defeated East Tennessee State Buccaneers and VMI Keydets.
The Bulldogs had previously met the Catamounts on January 8, 2026, where they also secured a victory, winning 82-77. This match continued a trend of strong performances against Western Carolina, with their last three encounters resulting in wins for Samford. The Catamounts, despite their recent success, struggled to find a solution to the Bulldogs' offensive pressure throughout the game.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but the performance of both teams suggests they were fielding their best available lineups. The market had priced Samford as 1.5-point favorites according to DraftKings, with a total set at 154.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, but the Bulldogs' performance indicated they were the stronger side on the night.
The game conditions were typical for a February evening in the Ramsey Center, with fans in attendance supporting their home team. However, the Catamounts were unable to capitalize on their home court advantage, ultimately falling short against a well-prepared Samford squad.
Key moments in the game included a series of scoring plays that highlighted Samford's ability to maintain their lead in the second half. Notably, Cord Stansberry contributed significantly with a layup and subsequent free throws that helped push the Bulldogs' score to 85-72. As the game progressed, the Bulldogs continued to extend their lead, with Zion Wilburn and Jadin Booth also making crucial free throws and jump shots that kept the momentum firmly in their favor.
Overall, this matchup showcased the Bulldogs' offensive prowess and strategic execution, allowing them to secure a comfortable victory over the Catamounts. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on their performances, with Samford aiming to maintain their winning momentum and Western Carolina seeking to rebound from this setback.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SAM -1.5 | 154.5 o -108 / u -112 | Samford Bulldogs -108 · Western Carolina Catamounts -112 |
Leaders
- PointsCord Stansberry13Western Carolina Catamounts
- AssistsJulien Soumaoro3Western Carolina Catamounts
- ReboundsMarcus Kell7Western Carolina Catamounts
- PointsDylan Faulkner23Samford Bulldogs
- AssistsDylan Faulkner5Samford Bulldogs
- ReboundsDylan Faulkner14Samford Bulldogs
Recent form
Western Carolina Catamounts
Last 10: 4-6Streak W279.8 scored · 82.1 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W90-88at East Tennessee State BuccaneersJan 30
- W88-58vs VMI KeydetsJan 24
- L76-88at Mercer BearsJan 22
- L82-90vs Chattanooga MocsJan 17
- W72-68vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersJan 14
- L77-79at The Citadel BulldogsJan 10
- L77-82at Samford BulldogsJan 8
- W80-77at Furman PaladinsJan 3
- L74-79vs Wofford TerriersDec 31
- L82-112at Georgia BulldogsDec 19
Samford Bulldogs
Last 10: 4-6Streak L178 scored · 74.4 allowed per game1-4 away
- L73-78at Furman PaladinsJan 29
- W75-64vs Chattanooga MocsJan 24
- L78-88at Wofford TerriersJan 21
- L75-76vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersJan 17
- L73-77vs Furman PaladinsJan 15
- L79-88at Chattanooga MocsJan 10
- W82-77vs Western Carolina CatamountsJan 8
- L82-89at UNC Greensboro SpartansJan 3
- W78-58at VMI KeydetsJan 1
- W85-49vs Reinhardt EaglesDec 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 23-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Mercer | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Wofford | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Samford | 18-14 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Furman | 22-13 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Western Carolina | 15-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| UNC Greensboro | 15-19 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Chattanooga | 13-19 | 6 | 7-11 |
| The Citadel | 11-22 | 6 | 7-11 |
| VMI | 6-26 | 12 | 1-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Samford Bulldogs | Western Carolina Catamounts |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-48 | 25-65 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 10-24 | 6-25 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 24 |
| Free throws | 30-41 | 18-24 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 42 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 34 | 19 |
| Assists | 13 | 7 |
| Steals | 1 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 32 |
| Fouls | 19 | 27 |
| Largest lead | 20 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 89 | 8 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half57-48Cade Norris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-48Isaiah Campbell-Finch makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-48Jadin Booth makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-48Jadin Booth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-48Will Shaver makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-48Will Shaver makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-49Tahlan Pettway makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-50Tahlan Pettway makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-52Tahlan Pettway makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half66-52Zion Wilburn makes 26-foot three point jumper (Keaton Norris assists)
- 2nd Half66-53Marcus Kell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-53Zion Wilburn makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half68-54Marcus Kell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-54Jadin Booth makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half71-56Samuel Dada makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half74-56Jadin Booth makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dylan Faulkner assists)
- 2nd Half75-56Jadin Booth makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-56Jadin Booth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-58CJ Hyland makes layup
- 2nd Half77-58Cade Norris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-58Cade Norris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-61Julien Soumaoro makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half79-61Cade Norris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-61Cade Norris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-63Tidjiane Dioumassi makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half80-64CJ Hyland makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-65CJ Hyland makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-66Julien Soumaoro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-67Julien Soumaoro makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-67Dylan Faulkner makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half82-69Cord Stansberry makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half83-69Zion Wilburn makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-71Cord Stansberry makes layup
- 2nd Half83-72Cord Stansberry makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half84-72Zion Wilburn makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-72Zion Wilburn makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-72Jadin Booth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-74Julien Soumaoro makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half87-74Isaiah Campbell-Finch makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half88-74Isaiah Campbell-Finch makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Western Carolina Catamounts, below favours Samford Bulldogs.
Venue
- Ramsey CenterCullowhee, NC
- Attendance1146
- OfficialsJeremy Mosier, Alex Langley, Justin McKie
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