WNC Sports -- January 27, 2026: Local Sports Roundup: WNC Basketball Heats Up and NASCAR Returns
College basketball in Western North Carolina is hitting its stride this week with high-stakes conference matchups, while high school rivalries reach a boiling point and racing fans prepare for a historic weekend.
College Basketball: Rivalries and Retro Nights
UNC Asheville Bulldogs:
The Matchup: Host Gardner-Webb this Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 PM (Kimmel Arena).
Community Impact: The game features the Ingles I-26 Rivalry food drive. Fans are encouraged to bring donations to support local food banks.
On the Road: The Bulldogs travel to face Winthrop on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2:00 PM.
Recent History: Asheville is coming off a gritty 57-56 win over USC Upstate and looks to maintain momentum before hosting them again on Feb. 4.
Western Carolina Catamounts:
The Matchup: Travel to face ETSU in Johnson City, TN, this Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:00 PM. Live audio will be available for Catamount fans.
Retro Night: WCU hosts Samford this Saturday, Jan. 31, at 1:00 PM (Ramsey Center).
Special Event: Saturday is "Turn Back the Clock to 1996" night, featuring a free replica jersey giveaway for fans.
Season Recap: WCU recently dominated VMI 88-58 on Jan. 24 and already holds a win over rival UNC Asheville from earlier this season.
Gardner-Webb: * The Runnin' Bulldogs women's team faces Longwood on Wednesday, Jan. 28, before the men's squad heads to Asheville on Thursday.
High School Hoops: Mid-Season Showdowns
The regional standings are tightening as conference play continues across Western North Carolina:
Key Recent Results:
East Lincoln men moved to 10-1 in conference play after a hard-fought 58-54 win over North Lincoln.
Huss remains undefeated in conference (4-0) after edging out Crest 77-7North Lincoln men showed their offensive power in an 86-63 win over Bandys.
Standings to Watch: East Lincoln and Hickory continue to battle for the top spot in the Western Foothills conference, while Huss and South Point remain the teams to beat in the Southern Piedmont.
Local Sports Briefs & Racing
Celebrating a Legend: UNC Asheville is honoring Eddie Biedenbach, the winningest coach in Big South history, following his 80th birthday. Biedenbach led the Bulldogs to five regular-season titles and remains a fixture in the local basketball community.
NASCAR at Bowman Gray: Racing returns to the "Madhouse" this weekend. Practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Cook Out Clash begin Saturday, Jan. 31, at 6:00 PM, with heat races following at 8:30 PM.
Weather Watch: While recent winter storms caused minor delays, all local indoor athletic schedules have fully resumed for the week.
WNCTimes