CHARLESTON, S.C. - Armed with a motivating road win at ETSU on Saturday, The Citadel (8-10, 2-5) prepares for the middle stretch of its SoCon season welcoming Western Carolina (8-12, 2-5) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Catamounts won the first meeting this year with a 94-90 overtime decision on Jan. 5.

ON THE RADIO AND ESPN+
All games for the 2021-22 season will be carried on 102.1FM and 1450AM. The voice of the Bulldogs, Luke Mauro, returns for his fourth season behind the mic. The game can be seen on ESPN+ with Kyle West and Jason Kempf on the call.

BASKETBALL PARTICIPATES IN COACHES VS. CANCER WEEK
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The program empowers basketball and other athletic coaches to save lives from cancer by leveraging their community leadership to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. 

THE HEAT IS ON!
The Citadel's resiliency paid off Saturday with a hard-fought 75-73 road win at ETSU, ending a 1-7 stretch and three-game losing streak. This, compounded with early deficits in select games, prompted head coach Duggar Baucom to change his starting five after using the same lineup for all but one of their first 15 games. Graduate transfer guard David Maynard has started the last three contests, the firsts of his career, with his steady contributioins helping the Bulldogs to a change in their fortunes.

STRENGTH FROM WITHIN
While regulars Hayden Brown (28 pts.) and Stephen Clark (11 reb.) filled the stat sheet for The Citadel Saturday at ETSU, it was the work of the rotation players that anchored down the win. Rudy Fitzgibbons, III had 11 of his 14 points in the second half, with his third and final three giving the Bulldogs the lead for good at 70-67 with 2:50 to play. David Maynard finished with ten points and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line, making both his final attempts with 0:24 left on a one-and-one trip to go up 74-70.

BROWN, CLARK RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
Hayden Brown's 28 points and four rebounds Saturday at ETSU landed him his 18th career 20-point game, moved into 21st all-time with 1,170 career points, and tenth with 606 career boards. Stephen Clark had 11 rebounds and one block to move into sixth all-time with 47 season blocks and his 109 career swats ranks fifth all-time.

HISTORY WITH WESTERN CAROLINA
Western Carolina leads the all-time series 45-38 and have won eight of the last ten meetings. The Citadel took two out of three from the Catamounts last season, winning its home matchup and the first-round SoCon Tournament game.

SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Western Carolina holds the lowest scoring defense in the SoCon allowing 78.7 ppg., as well as field goal percentage (40.5, 504-1245) and free throw percentage (66.7, 250-375). They're rebounding ranks atop the SoCon averaging 39.2 a game, plus a league-best 12.7 offensive boards per contest. Nicholas Robinson is a double threat, averaging a team-high 14.4 ppg. and 6.9 rpg. 

THE LAST MEETING...
Wednesday, Jan. 5: WCU 94, The Citadel 90 (OT)
The Citadel bounced back from a ten-point first half deficit to lead late in the game. Both sides went blow-for-blow in the final four minutes, with the Catamounts' Nicholas Robinson's jumper forcing overtime at 81-81. Threes on WCU's first two possessions of overtime sealed the Bulldogs' fate. 

ROCHE LEADS SOCON IN THREES, MINUTES PLAYED 
Freshman Jason Roche opened Saturday's game at ETSU making four 3-pointers on his first five attempts. He improved his season total to 68 made threes (7th in all NCAA Div. I) to move into 6th all-time among The Citadel freshmen. He is 12 away from the all-time record of 80 set by Fletcher Abee in 2019-20. The 6'5" forward stands atop the SoCon averaging 3.8 made threes per game and 35.6 minutes played (32nd in all NCAA Div. I).

STEPHEN CLARK'S BLOCK PARTY
Stephen Clark is one above his season block total from last year with 47 (1st in SoCon) that ranks sixth all-time in school history, while his 109 career swats puts him at fifth all-time. He's had three games this year totaling five or more blocks.

22 AND DONE
The Citadel's win at ETSU on Jan. 22 ended a 22-game drought for the Bulldogs in SoCon road games that began after defeating Mercer 67-61 on Feb. 9, 2019. 

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs are at home again this Saturday with a rematch versus Chattanooga on the slate at 1 p.m. The Mocs won the first matchup earlier this month 85-67 on Jan. 8.