BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Southern Conference rivals Samford and Western Carolina will meet Wednesday afternoon at Pete Hanna Center, with both teams looking to build momentum after splitting their league openers. The Bulldogs (8-7, 1-1 SoCon) host the Catamounts (5-8, 1-1) in a midweek conference clash. Samford aims to bounce back from an 89-82 road loss to UNC Greensboro on Saturday, while Western Carolina arrives with confidence following an 80-77 overtime victory at Furman the same day. Samford’s offense runs through forward Dylan Faulkner, who has been on a scoring tear. He poured in 25 points in each of his last two games, including against UNCG, and added four blocks in that contest. His consistent production will be central to the Bulldogs’ attack. Western Carolina counters with forward Julien Soumaoro, who is coming off his best performance of the season. In the win at Furman, Soumaoro logged 35 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds. His ability to control the glass will be key against Samford’s frontcourt. The Catamounts’ victory over Furman snapped a three-game skid and showcased a balanced effort. Alongside Soumaoro, Tidjiane Dioumassi added 12 points and six rebounds, and Cord Stansberry contributed 15 points and five boards. Samford’s season has been marked by volatility, with a mix of high-scoring wins and lopsided non-conference losses. Protecting home court is essential for their conference standing. Western Carolina, despite its sub-.500 record, has shown resilience, with four of its five wins coming at home or in neutral settings; securing a road win would be a significant boost. This matchup is the first of two between the teams this season. They will meet again in Cullowhee, North Carolina, on Jan. 31. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Wednesday.