Davidson Wildcats (18-3, 11-0 SoCon) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (11-9, 6-4 SoCon)
Date: Feb. 2, 2009
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: John M. Belk Arena (5,223 capacity) - Davidson, N.C.
Audio: John Kilgo calls the action on the Davidson Radio Network (1350 AM, 1660 AM and 95.7 FM [joined in progress], online on Teamline)
Video: Video stream available online on Davidson All-Access at www.DavidsonWildcats.com
Web sites: Davidson (www.DavidsonWildcats.com), Western Carolina (www.CatamountSports.com)
Layup Line
• The Wildcats return home to host Western Carolina Monday night in Belk Arena.
• It’s the second contest of a stretch in which Davidson plays four games in a week.
• It’s the third straight game in which the Wildcats have played a team in first or second place in the SoCon North Division. Western Carolina is currently first with a 6-4 record.
• Davidson has won 41 straight Southern Conference regular-season games and 49 of its last 50, dating back to Feb. 25, 2006. The league record is 44 by West Virginia from 1956-60.
• Davidson has a current 26-game winning streak in Belk Arena, including a 9-0 record this season. It’s the third-longest home court win streak in the country. The ‘Cats’ last loss in the building was against Appalachian State Jan. 20, 2007.
• Davidson boasts a 202-58 (.777) record in Belk Arena.
• Davidson has won 16 of its last 18 contests overall, including eight in a row, and is coming off a 55-52 win at Samford Saturday afternoon.
• The Wildcats own their best record at this point of the season since the 1995-96 campaign, when Davidson won 19 in a row to post a 25-3 mark before falling 69-60 to Western Carolina in the SoCon Championship. The ‘Cats lost their last contest that season 100-79 at South Carolina in the NIT.
• Junior guard Stephen Curry needs 214 points to pass John Gerdy and become Davidson’s all-time leading scorer.
• Curry was named the SoCon Player of the Week last Tuesday after averaging 31.5 points in two victories. It’s a league-record sixth time he has earned the honor, which has been awarded since 1968. He’s received the accolade 14 times in his career.
• Curry, who leads the nation in scoring, is the only player in Division I ranked in the top-10 in points, assists and steals per game.
• Curry has also moved into the top-20 in NCAA?Division I career 3-pointers. He is 17th with 365 and is 14 away from moving into the top-10.
• With 10 wins this season, Bob McKillop has now led the Wildcats to double-digit SoCon victories 15 times, including the last eight campaigns.
• Western Carolina has won three out of its last five, including the last two, and is coming off a 77-65 home win over Wofford Saturday.
• This is the Catamounts’ third game in the last six days.
• Western Carolina is 2-7 on the road and 1-4 in road league games.
• This is the only scheduled contest between Davidson and Western Carolina this season.
Series History
• Davidson leads the all-time series 34-18 and has won the last four.
• The series began with an 82-76 Wildcat win in 1977.
• The Wildcats are 18-8 against the Catamounts at home, 11-3 in Belk Arena and 23-7 under head coach Bob McKillop.
• Jason Richards and Stephen Curry combined for 47 points and 12 assists to lead Davidson to an 82-67 win in the Ramsey Athletic Center in the last contest between the ‘Cats and Catamounts.
• Brandon Giles led Western Carolina with 23 points and six rebounds, while Blake Gallagher and Jake Robinson each scored 12.
• Davidson hit nine 3-pointers in the first half and held Western to 26.9 percent shooting en route to a 42-23 halftime lead.
Leftovers From Samford Game
• It was Lovedale’s seventh double-double this season (second straight) and the ninth of his career.
• The attendance of 5,116 was almost 1,000 more than the previous Samford record.
• Curry moved into 17th on the NCAA career 3-pointers list.
• It was a season low for the ‘Cats in points and field goal percentage.
• It was the first time Davidson scored 55 or less and won since a 53-48 home win over UNC?Greensboro Feb. 5, 2002.
Claw Marks
• Davidson has held its opponents under 40 percent shooting in 13 games this season and has won all 13.
• The Wildcats have outrebounded their opponent in 15 games this season and have won all 15.
• Stephen Curry has hit the 20-point mark in 65 career games, the 30-point mark in 26 outings and the 40-point plateau five times. He owns the school record for career games with 40 or more and career contests with 30 or more.
• Davidson held Furman to 13 second-half points Jan. 21. The Paladins were held to four points in the first 17:10 of the stanza.
• Davidson set a school record with 25 steals against Guilford Nov. 14. Curry and Max Paulhus Gosselin combined for 17.
• The ‘Cats’ victory over NC?State Dec. 6 was their first against an ACC school since defeating North Carolina 58-54 in Chapel Hill Nov. 20, 2001.
• Davidson is now 1-2 all-time in Time Warner Cable Arena with the losses coming to North Carolina and Duke last season and a win against NC?State this season.