Box Score
Download Free Acrobat Reader
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Corey Green scored 12 second-half points and made the game-winning layup with 33 seconds remaining to help Samford to a 59-58 win over UCF in Atlantic Sun Conference basketball on Wednesday.
The win keeps Samford (6-3, 4-0 A-Sun) perfect in the Atlantic Sun with wins over four teams picked in the top five of the preseason conference coaches' poll.
Green finished the game with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting to lead the Bulldogs. His layup came after a jumper by Ray Abellard gave UCF a 58-57 lead with just over a minute remaining. Abellard led all scorers with 18 points in 24 minutes. Two other Bulldogs contributed in double figures, Chris Weaver with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds and Cornell Felton with 11 points. Redshirt freshman Jon Mills led the Bulldogs with six assists.
The Bulldogs shot 52 percent from the field, including 44 percent from the three-point line. Although limited in trips to the free throw line, Samford knocked down four of five. UCF shot 46 percent from the field and 35 percent from the charity stripe. Samford also outrebounded UCF 26-24, marking the fourth consecutive game that Samford has won the battle of the boards.
The Bulldogs ran their offense very well in the first half, as 13 of their 14 first half field goals resulted from seven layups, three from back-cuts, and six three-pointers. Samford led by as many as 18 before taking a 36-21 lead into the half. Weaver had the hot hand in the first half, scoring all of his 14 points on five of seven shooting from the field and four of six from the three-point line.
As Florida Atlantic did in the last game, UCF turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and forced 10 Samford turnovers. The Golden Knights outscored the Bulldogs 37-23 in the second period, taking their first lead at 50-49 on a layup by Paul Reed and ending a 29-10 run over almost 11 minutes. Felton answered Reed with a three-pointer for a 52-50 Bulldog lead, and in the final eight minutes the lead changed hands seven times and was tied twice.
Green scored five of Samford's last nine points, including a three pointer and the game winner. Mills also knocked down two clutch free throws with 2:45 to play.
Samford returns to non-conference action on Friday as it hosts Morehead State at 7 p.m. at Seibert Hall.
