GAME NOTES: The first-ever meeting between the Chicago State Cougars and the Western Carolina Catamounts is set for the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at the O'Rena on Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago State, while 2-4 in the early going, is still awaiting a win over another Division I opponent at this juncture. Since defeating IU Northwest and Trinity Christian, the Cougars have bowed to Georgia State (69-46) and, on Tuesday, Oakland (70-57).

Like Chicago State, the Catamounts are also playing under .500 currently, watching a two-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday with an 85-70 loss versus Georgia State. The schedule does not help the situation either, with WCU playing on the road for the next four games before hosting Wright State on Dec. 18.

Shooting only 35.1 percent from the field there was little chance the Cougars would be able to keep up with host Oakland on Tuesday, which is exactly what happened. Clarke Rosenberg tried to give the visitors a fighting chance with his 15 points, five rebounds and five assists before fouling out, but he shot only 5-of-17 from the floor. Jared Dimakos and Anthony Glover pitched in with 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Johnny Griffin came up a point short of a double-double as he cleared a team-best 10 rebounds before he too picked up his fifth personal foul.

Rosenberg, the leading scorer in all but one of the first five games for Chicago State, is also the lone double-digit performer at the moment for the Cougars as he puts up 18.5 ppg. However, his output could be even more if not for the fact that he has shot only 56.8 percent at the free-throw line where he has been a frequent visitors. As a unit, the Cougars are converting only 61.0 percent at the charity stripe.

Western Carolina managed to produce a two-point lead for the briefest of moments in the first half, fell behind by four at the break against Georgia State and was then left behind through the final 20 minutes. Except for Tucker Thompson who was held scoreless through seven minutes of action, every starter scored in double figures for the Catamounts, led by Rhett Harrelson with 21 points, followed by Torrion Brummitt and James Sinclair with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while Mike Brown dropped 11 points before fouling out.

On a team that is scoring 72.0 ppg, but at the same time allowing 72.6 ppg, Sinclair and Harrelson lead the offensive attack with 22.0 ppg and 16.0 ppg, respectively. Add Brown (12.6 ppg) into the mix and you've accounted for all but two of the team's 41 made 3-pointers through five games. Sinclair and Harrelson have also combined for 30 assists, but at the same time turned the ball over 25 times.

At some point the Cougars will find a way to take care of business against another D-I opponent, but for the time being they'll have to deal with acquainting themselves with the loss column.