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In a highly anticipated semifinal matchup, the one-seeded ETSU Buccaneers narrowly escaped an upset from their Blue Ridge Mountain foe, the Western Carolina Catamounts, clinching a 69-67 victory. The atmosphere at Harrah’s Cherokee Center was electric as the Buccaneers surged ahead to secure their place in the SoCon Championship.
The loss marked a heartbreaking end for the fifth-seeded Catamounts, whose resilient postseason run fell just one basket short of a title-game appearance.
Catamounts Gain Control
From the opening tip, Western Carolina looked like an aggressor, establishing a rhythm that kept the top-seeded Buccaneers on their heels. The Catamounts executed a precise game plan, leading for a staggering 92% of the contest, almost mirroring their last contest versus the Mercer Bears. WCU’s ability to limit ETSU’s transition opportunities and hit timely shots allowed them to build and maintain a cushion that lasted nearly the entire game.
With just 1:17 left in the first half, the Cats lead by 17-points; their largest of the afternoon. They headed into halftime leading the Bucs 38-24. This lead carried for most of the second half.
The Final Minutes
However, the final three minutes told a different story. Despite WCU’s sustained lead, ETSU found a late spark, chipping away at a late deficit to keep themselves within one possession. With 38 seconds remaining, ETSU’s Blake Barkley and Brian Taylor II each made one free-throw to give the Bucs a two-point lead.
With the clock winding down and WCU trailing by two, Marcus Kell had a look at a game-winning 24-foot three-pointer. The shot had the distance but rimmed out as time expired, allowing ETSU to escape with a win they trailed for almost the entire night.
The Playmakers
Western Carolina’s dominant start was driven by the trio of Marcus Kell, Cord Stansberry, and Tidjiane Dioumassi, who combined to control the tempo for nearly the entire afternoon. Kell led the scoring effort with 18 points by aggressively attacking the rim, while Stansberry’s perfect 8-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line and Dioumassi’s steady playmaking allowed the Catamounts to maintain their lead.
ETSU’s late-game comeback was fueled by Brian Taylor II, who played all 40 minutes and hit four timely three-pointers, and Blake Barkley, who scored 11 straight points in the final minutes to personally erase the WCU lead. Jaden McCullum anchored the defense with two crucial blocks, providing the spark for the turnaround that allowed the Buccaneers to steal the victory in the closing moments.
The SoCon Championship
Following their victory, the top-seeded Buccaneers now advance to the SoCon Championship, slated for Monday, March 9, at 6:00 PM in Asheville. ETSU awaits the winner of the UNCG and Furman semifinal for a SoCon title and a bid to the big dance. This championship clash is shaping up to be a must-see event, as the Bucs fight for their first SoCon Tournament Championship since 2020, and their first March Madness bid since 2017.
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