Catamounts Claw Past Mercer Into SoCon Semis

Western Carolina erases 17-point deficit to advance to conference tournament semifinals

Mar. 8, 2026 at 6:51am

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Western Carolina overcame a 17-point first-half deficit and a nine-point hole in the second half to defeat Mercer, 77-73, in the Southern Conference tournament quarterfinals. The Catamounts used a strong offensive rebounding effort (25 offensive boards) to battle back and take the lead late, holding on for the victory.

Why it matters

This win extends Western Carolina's winning streak to seven games, the longest such streak for the Catamounts in the modern era. They now advance to the SoCon semifinals, where they will face top-seeded ETSU in a rematch of two close regular season contests.

The details

Mercer jumped out to a 22-9 lead midway through the first half, but Western Carolina chipped away and took a 36-35 lead at halftime. The teams traded blows in the second half, with Mercer briefly regaining control before the Catamounts rallied again to take a late lead they would not relinquish. Western Carolina's Tidjiane Dioumassi and Tahlan Pettway combined for 39 points, while Mercer's Baraka Okojie scored a game-high 26 points.

  • The game was played on March 8, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina.
  • Western Carolina trailed by 17 points in the first half before rallying back.
  • The Catamounts took a 36-35 lead at halftime.
  • Mercer briefly regained control in the second half before Western Carolina rallied again.
  • The game was decided in the final 90 seconds, with Western Carolina holding on for the 77-73 victory.

The players

Tim Craft

The head coach of the Western Carolina Catamounts.

Ryan Ridder

The head coach of the Mercer Bears.

Baraka Okojie

A Mercer player who scored a game-high 26 points in the loss.

Tidjiane Dioumassi

A Western Carolina player who scored 19 points to help lead the Catamounts' comeback.

Tahlan Pettway

A Western Carolina player who scored 20 points and was part of the two-headed monster for the Catamounts.

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What they’re saying

“That was a heck of a college basketball game. All credit goes to Mercer and coach (Ryan) Ridder. He had his team ready to go tonight and I did not. Our guys batted to get back in the game. I thought our offensive rebounding was the key (25) was key to getting us back in the game.”

— Tim Craft, Western Carolina Head Coach

“I should have done more. I missed a couple bunnies that I usually make nine out of ten times. I didn't get to the foul line enough and I only had one rebound tonight. That's not enough. We were up by 17 points, and we lost it. I think we were the better team tonight and we could not get the job done.”

— Baraka Okojie, Mercer Player

What’s next

Western Carolina will face top-seeded ETSU in the Southern Conference tournament semifinals on Sunday, March 10, 2026 at 4 p.m. The two teams split a pair of close games during the regular season.

The takeaway

This comeback win showcases Western Carolina's resilience and ability to battle back from large deficits. The Catamounts' strong offensive rebounding and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference as they extended their winning streak to seven games and advanced to the SoCon semifinals.