The Citadel Edges Western Carolina in Overtime Thriller
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1:00 PM ET · McAlister Field House
The Citadel Bulldogs 79, Western Carolina Catamounts 77, 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 Western Carolina Catamounts vs The Citadel Bulldogs?
The Citadel Bulldogs beat Western Carolina Catamounts 79-77 at McAlister Field House on January 10, 2026.
Who was favored in Western Carolina Catamounts vs The Citadel Bulldogs?
Western Carolina Catamounts were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -305 (about 75% implied). The underdog won.
The Citadel Bulldogs secured a dramatic victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts, winning 79-77 in overtime at McAlister Field House. This game was notable not only for its close score but also for the Bulldogs' ability to break a six-game losing streak, showcasing their resilience in a hard-fought contest. Both teams entered the game with struggling records; The Citadel had a home record of 4-13 and an overall record of 4-13, while Western Carolina came in with a 5-10 record.
In the lead-up to this matchup, The Citadel had been on a downward spiral, losing their last six games. Their recent form included a particularly heavy defeat against Mercer, where they lost 63-101 just two days prior to facing Western Carolina. Over their last ten games, they managed only one victory, averaging 65.4 points scored per game while allowing 79.6 points. Their struggles were evident, especially in the last five games where they averaged just 66.4 points while conceding an alarming 86.4 points.
Conversely, Western Carolina had a slightly better record, winning three of their last ten games before this matchup. However, they too faced challenges, including a recent loss to Samford, where they fell 77-82. The Catamounts averaged 79.3 points scored per game but also allowed 83.5 points during their last ten games. Their away record was particularly concerning, standing at 1-6, which added to the pressure they faced in this contest.
Historically, this fixture has not favored The Citadel, as they had lost both previous meetings against Western Carolina during the 2025 season. In their last encounter on January 25, 2025, The Citadel lost 78-80 at home, and earlier that season, they fell 73-76 in an away game. The Bulldogs were looking to turn the tide in this matchup.
In terms of injuries, there were no significant updates provided that would affect the rosters of either team. Both squads appeared to field their regular lineups, which allowed for a competitive game. The market had Western Carolina favored by 6.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 148.5. This indicated that the expectation was for a relatively high-scoring game, which ultimately played out as both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle.
The conditions at McAlister Field House were typical for a college basketball game, with both teams energized by the home crowd supporting The Citadel. The atmosphere was charged, particularly as the game progressed into overtime, with fans on the edge of their seats.
As the game unfolded, it was a tightly contested affair that saw multiple lead changes. In overtime, The Citadel managed to secure the win with critical free throws from Carter Kingsbury and Sola Adebisi, who both stepped up under pressure. The final scoring plays included a three-point jumper from CJ Hyland, which brought the score to 79-77, sealing the victory for The Citadel.
This game not only marked a significant win for The Citadel but also highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball, where any team can emerge victorious in a tightly matched contest. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how both teams respond in their upcoming games following this thrilling encounter.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WCU -6.5 | 148.5 o -108 / u -112 | Western Carolina Catamounts -305 · The Citadel Bulldogs +245 |
Leaders
- PointsCarter Kingsbury22The Citadel Bulldogs
- AssistsEze Wali3The Citadel Bulldogs
- ReboundsSimeon German10The Citadel Bulldogs
- PointsMarcus Kell24Western Carolina Catamounts
- AssistsTahlan Pettway5Western Carolina Catamounts
- ReboundsJulien Soumaoro8Western Carolina Catamounts
Recent form
The Citadel Bulldogs
Last 10: 1-9Streak L665.4 scored · 79.6 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L63-101at Mercer BearsJan 8
- L86-95vs Wofford TerriersJan 3
- L49-74vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersDec 30
- L56-80at Richmond SpidersDec 20
- L78-82at Charleston CougarsDec 18
- L55-71at South Carolina GamecocksDec 14
- W98-73vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 10
- L63-79at Davidson WildcatsDec 5
- L41-69vs Presbyterian Blue HoseNov 30
- L65-72vs Houston Christian HuskiesNov 27
Western Carolina Catamounts
Last 10: 3-7Streak L179.3 scored · 83.5 allowed per game1-6 away
- L77-82at Samford BulldogsJan 8
- W80-77at Furman PaladinsJan 3
- L74-79vs Wofford TerriersDec 31
- L82-112at Georgia BulldogsDec 19
- L74-96at Virginia Tech HokiesDec 12
- L67-78at South Carolina Upstate SpartansDec 6
- W124-62vs Virginia Lynchburg DragonsDec 2
- L73-93at High Point PanthersNov 29
- L62-83at Lipscomb BisonsNov 22
- W80-73vs UNC Asheville BulldogsNov 20
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 | Western Carolina Catamounts | The Citadel Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-68 | 24-58 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 9-30 | 8-28 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 29 |
| Free throws | 10-16 | 23-28 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 30 |
| Assists | 12 | 9 |
| Steals | 8 | 0 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 5 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 28 |
| Fouls | 22 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 16 | 16 |
| Time in front | 60 | 29 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-45Braxton Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
- 2nd Half45-45Cord Stansberry makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half46-45Cord Stansberry makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half46-48Eze Wali makes 24-foot three point jumper (Carter Kingsbury assists)
- 2nd Half46-49Carter Kingsbury makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-50Carter Kingsbury makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-50Cord Stansberry makes 29-foot three point jumper (Tahlan Pettway assists)
- 2nd Half50-50Marcus Kell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-50Marcus Kell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-52Carter Kingsbury makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-52Marcus Kell makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tahlan Pettway assists)
- 2nd Half54-54Carter Kingsbury makes layup
- 2nd Half56-54CJ Hyland makes layup
- 2nd Half58-54Marcus Kell makes layup
- 2nd Half58-56Christian Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half60-56Marcus Kell makes layup
- 2nd Half61-56Marcus Kell makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-58Carter Kingsbury makes layup
- 2nd Half63-58Marcus Kell makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-58Abdulai Fanta Kabba makes layup (Tahlan Pettway assists)
- 2nd Half65-60Braxton Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half66-60Abdulai Fanta Kabba makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-60Abdulai Fanta Kabba makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-63Braxton Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
- 2nd Half67-64Christian Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Christian Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-68Carter Kingsbury makes 26-foot three point jumper (Christian Moore assists)
- 2nd Half69-68Tidjiane Dioumassi makes layup
- 2nd Half69-71Carter Kingsbury makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half71-71Julien Soumaoro makes 11-foot jumper
- OT71-73Carter Kingsbury makes 17-foot jumper (Simeon German assists)
- OT71-74Braxton Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT71-75Braxton Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT73-75Samuel Dada makes layup (Tidjiane Dioumassi assists)
- OT73-76Carter Kingsbury makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT73-77Carter Kingsbury makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT74-77Cord Stansberry makes free throw 3 of 3
- OT74-78Sola Adebisi makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT74-79Sola Adebisi makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT77-79CJ Hyland makes 23-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours The Citadel Bulldogs, below favours Western Carolina Catamounts.
Venue
- McAlister Field HouseCharleston, SC
- Attendance1201
- OfficialsBilly Dunlap, Clyde Owens, Chase Vaden
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond