BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford Bulldogs will look to stay perfect in Southern Conference play when they host the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday, Jan. 21 in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Saturday's contest will tip off at 5:00 p.m. (CST) and stream live on ESPN+.
 
The match-up is the 29th meeting between Samford and Western Carolina, in a series that dates back to the 1961-62 season and is even at 14-14.
 
Samford (13-7, 7-0 SoCon) has won its last three contests against the Catamounts, including both games in 2021-22. The Bulldogs bested WCU 74-64 in Cullowhee on Jan. 29, 2022, and won 85-60 on Jan. 8, 2022, at home.
 
Jermaine Marshall proved to be a match-up problem for the Catamounts last season, where he averaged 16 points and nine rebounds over two games.
 
The Bulldogs knocked off ETSU 69-59 their last time out on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to improve to 7-0 in league play and match their longest winning streak since the 2005-06 season.
 
Logan Dye led the Bulldogs with 19 points while Marshall logged his third double-double of the season with a 17-point, 12-rebound effort
 
As of Friday, the Bulldogs are one of just 16 Division I teams that remain undefeated in conference play and one of two in the state of Alabama, joining the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0).
 
Samford currently holds down the top spot in the SoCon standings at 7-0. The Bulldog's 7-0 record marks their best start to SoCon play since joining the conference in 2008 and the best start to conference play since starting 13-0 in the former TAAC (ASUN) in 1998-99.
 
The Bulldogs come into the weekend leading the SoCon in both field-goal percentage (48%) and three-point efficiency (41%) in conference contests. The Bulldogs have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in four of seven SoCon games.
 
The Bulldogs have gotten it done on both ends of the floor in league play, ranking second in the SoCon in both points per game (76.7 PPG) and scoring defense (67 PPG) against conference competition.
 
Dye comes into the week ranking second in the SoCon in scoring average in conference games at 20 points per game. The senior forward ranks third in field goal percentage in SoCon games (58%) and has scored at least 17 points in every conference game this season
 
Dye (987) needs just 13 more points to reach 1,000 for his collegiate career at Samford and become the 30th member of the men's basketball program's 1,000-point club.
 
The Catamounts of Western Carolina (11-9, 4-3 SoCon) bested Wofford 76-71 at home their last time out on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Vonterius Woolbright led WCU with a 20-point, seven-rebound, and five-assist effort in the win while Tyzhaun Claude added 17 points and seven boards.
 
Claude leads the Catamounts in both scoring (15 PPG) and rebounding (8.5 RPG) averages. Woolbright ranks second in both categories, averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 boards per contest while leading the team in scoring average in SoCon games (16.1 PPG)
 
Justin Gray enters his second season as Head Coach at Western Carolina, coming to Cullowhee after serving the past two seasons on Pat Kelsey's staff at Winthrop University. Before his time on staff in Rock Hill, Gray served as the Director of Basketball Development within the Deacon Club at his alma mater, Wake Forest.

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