CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Two Southern Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when The Citadel Bulldogs host the Western Carolina Catamounts at McAlister Field House.

Both teams enter the 4 p.m. contest looking to halt losing streaks within a challenging conference slate. Western Carolina (5-9, 1-2 SoCon) fell 82-77 at Samford on Wednesday. The Citadel (3-13, 0-3) is mired in a seven-game skid, most recently a 101-63 loss at Mercer.

The matchup features a pair of players coming off strong individual performances. Western Carolina’s Samuel Dada, a player to watch, scored 19 points with four blocks in the loss to Samford. Over his last three games, the versatile forward is averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

For The Citadel, guard Logan Applegate has provided a scoring spark. He tallied a team-high 16 points against Mercer and has reached double figures in three of his last five outings.

Despite their records, both teams have shown flashes. The Catamounts earned an 80-77 overtime road win at Furman on Jan. 3, demonstrating their potential. The Bulldogs pushed the College of Charleston to an 82-78 decision on Dec. 17 and routed non-Division I Southern Wesleyan 98-73 on Dec. 9.

Western Carolina holds a significant recent advantage in the series, having won the last five meetings. In their most recent matchup last February, the Catamounts secured an 85-71 victory in Cullowhee.

Saturday’s game represents a critical opportunity for both squads. For The Citadel, it is a chance to secure its first conference win and build confidence at home. For Western Carolina, avoiding a road loss to a team below them in the standings is paramount for maintaining mid-conference positioning.

The contest will be the only regular-season meeting between the programs in Charleston this season. They are scheduled for a rematch in Cullowhee on Wednesday, Feb. 11.