Western Carolina Catamounts take on the Mercer Bears on 5-game skid

Published Feb. 19, 2022 1:42 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Mercer Bears (15-13, 8-7 SoCon) at Western Carolina Catamounts (9-19, 3-12 SoCon)

Cullowhee, North Carolina; Saturday, 2 p.m. EST

LINE: Western Carolina -5.5; over/under is 144

BOTTOM LINE: Western Carolina looks to stop its five-game losing streak when the Catamounts play Mercer.

The Catamounts have gone 6-5 in home games. Western Carolina gives up 77.9 points to opponents and has been outscored by 6.7 points per game.

The Bears are 8-7 in SoCon play. Mercer ranks fifth in the SoCon shooting 35.6% from 3-point range.

The teams square off for the second time in conference play this season. The Bears won the last meeting 72-64 on Jan. 22. Jalen Johnson scored 18 points to help lead the Bears to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nick Robinson is averaging 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Catamounts. Joe Petrakis is averaging 7.9 points over the last 10 games for Western Carolina.

Felipe Haase is scoring 14.9 points per game and averaging 5.8 rebounds for the Bears. Johnson is averaging 11.4 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games for Mercer.

LAST 10 GAMES: Catamounts: 1-9, averaging 63.8 points, 32.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 3.7 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 37.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.7 points per game.

Bears: 4-6, averaging 67.1 points, 28.7 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.9 points.

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