Western Carolina holds on to upset ETSU

The Catamounts defeat the Buccaneers 90-88 in a close Southern Conference matchup.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Western Carolina defeated East Tennessee State University 90-88 in a close Southern Conference basketball game. The Catamounts led by as many as 16 points in the first half and held on for the victory despite a late comeback attempt by the Buccaneers. ETSU's Brian Taylor II hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to cut the lead to one, but a flagrant foul on the ensuing possession sealed the win for Western Carolina.

Why it matters

This game was an important conference matchup, as ETSU came into the game with a one-game lead over Wofford in the Southern Conference standings. The loss drops ETSU to 7-2 in conference play, while Western Carolina improves to 4-5.

The details

Western Carolina jumped out to a 16-4 lead to start the game and led by as many as 16 points in the first half. ETSU was able to cut the lead to three points late in the game, but the Catamounts hit key free throws down the stretch to hold on for the victory. Western Carolina dominated the paint in the first half, outscoring ETSU 26-8.

  • The game was played on Thursday, January 30, 2026.
  • Western Carolina defeated ETSU 72-68 in the teams' previous matchup in January.

The players

Brian Taylor II

A player for ETSU who hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to cut Western Carolina's lead to one point.

Cord Stansberry

One of Western Carolina's leading scorers, finishing with 19 points.

Julien Soumaoro

Western Carolina player who hit a pair of game-clinching free throws with 7.5 seconds left.

Jordan McCullum

ETSU player who cut Western Carolina's lead to three points with a free throw late in the game.

Cam Morris III

ETSU player who hit a 3-pointer late to give the Buccaneers some hope.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

ETSU will travel to Wofford on Saturday, February 2nd at 2 p.m. for a first-place showdown in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina will host Samford on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The takeaway

This game highlights the competitive nature of the Southern Conference, where any team can pull off an upset on a given night. ETSU will need to regroup quickly as they look to maintain their conference lead against a tough Wofford squad on Saturday.