Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's home men's basketball game against league newcomer Tennessee Tech on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center has been selected for linear broadcast as part of the Southern Conference's 12-game regular-season regional telecast schedule announced Monday by the league office.

The announcement comes after the SoCon previously revealed that two Catamount men's basketball games will air nationally on CBS Sports Network on Feb. 7 at Samford and Feb. 13 against Furman with a special 10 a.m. tipoff in Cullowhee.

Western Carolina's appearance in the broadcast package is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 3, when Tennessee Tech visits Cullowhee. The matchup marks the Golden Eagles' first trip to the Ramsey Center since Dec. 8, 2021, when the Catamounts earned a 74-69 overtime victory. The two programs have met 11 times entering the 2026-27 season.

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets, and the Southern Conference have again partnered to broadcast SoCon basketball throughout the league's six-state footprint across a network of Nexstar-affiliated stations.

"The Ingles SoCon Game of the Week and Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships TV coverage continues to be an important part of our efforts to showcase the outstanding basketball played across the Southern Conference," Interim SoCon Commissioner Geoff Cabe said. "We're excited to provide greater exposure for both our men's and women's programs while giving fans more opportunities to experience SoCon basketball. We're especially grateful to Ingles Markets for its continued and unparalleled commitment to our conference and student-athletes."

"This year's partnership between Ingles and the Southern Conference is highlighted by Ingles SoCon Game of the Week. This year's basketball season will see the Ingles Game of the Week, giving every men's team in the conference linear television exposure, great rivalries and exciting women's games," Ingles Advertising Director Melissa Leavell said. "The television package expands our tournament coverage bringing all the traditions of the tournament and talent on the court together. Ingles and The Southern Conference make great partners by sharing the commitment to bringing all aspects of college sports to more people across our region."

Produced by the home institution, each game included in the broadcast package will also air concurrently on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). A combined six women's basketball programs and nine men's teams will be featured throughout the season.

The SoCon's Ingles broadcast package begins Saturday, Jan. 9, with Chattanooga hosting VMI in an early-season conference matchup. The first of three women's basketball broadcasts is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, when Furman travels to Mercer.

Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games include: WMYT (Charlotte); WYCW (Spartanburg/Greenville/Asheville); WWCW (Roanoke, Va.); WCBD (Charleston, S.C.); WBTW (Myrtle Beach, S.C.); WGHP (Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem); WHDF (Huntsville/Florence, Ala.); and WJHL (Johnson City, Tenn.). Non-Nexstar affiliates include EFLI (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and WMUB (Macon, Ga.).

The Catamounts open the 2026-27 season under third-year head coach Tim Craft on Monday night with a trip to Chapel Hill to face ACC foe North Carolina at the Smith Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with live coverage on the ACC Network and the Watch ESPN app.

Season tickets for the home portion of the 2026-27 Catamount men's and women's basketball seasons are on sale now through the Ramsey Center Ticket Office, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Options include men's-only, women's-only, and "All Hoops" packages covering every home basketball game at the Ramsey Center. Single-game tickets are also on sale.

Follow everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@catamountmbb, @wcu_catamounts), and X (@CatamountMBB, @catamounts).

2026-27 SoCon Basketball Nexstar Television Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 9          VMI at Chattanooga, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16        ETSU at UNCG, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23        Samford at The Citadel, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30        Samford at Wofford, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 3    Tennessee Tech at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6          Furman at Mercer (WBB) 2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6          Furman at Mercer, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13       Mercer at UNCG, Noon
Saturday, Feb. 13       Chattanooga at UNCG (WBB) 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20       Tennessee Tech at Samford, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27       Samford at Furman (WBB) 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27       UNCG at Furman, 4 p.m.