Jan. 19, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Chris Weaver scored 18 points and Samford erased a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat Georgia State 63-59 in Atlantic Sun Conference basketball Saturday.

The win keeps Samford in the top spot of the conference and even with Jacksonville at 8-2 in the A-Sun, as the Dolphins defeated Troy State on Saturday, 74-71. Samford won at Jacksonville, 65-58, on Jan. 7, to hold a tiebreak over the Dolphins.

Samford (11-7, 8-2 A-Sun) trailed Georgia State (9-8, 5-5 A-Sun) 47-34 with 8:32 remaining in the game, when a three-pointer by Weaver started a 29-12 Samford run. The Bulldogs knocked down a total of four three-pointers in the run, including the last by Corey Green to give the Bulldogs a 60-56 lead with 24 seconds remaining. Green's layup with 4:17 to go gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half, and they never trailed again. Thomas Terrell kept the Panthers close with a three to cut the lead to 60-59 with 14 seconds left, but Phillip Ramelli made three of four free throws to seal the win.

Weaver added team-highs of eight rebounds and three assists in the win, scoring 12 of his points in the second half. Ramelli also had a big second half, scoring 13 of his 17 points in the period. He also finished the game with four rebounds and dished out three assists in his second game back from the flu. Green chipped in 13 points, nine in the second half, with six rebounds and two steals. The Bulldogs shot 54 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Panthers to 42 percent. GSU outrebounded Samford 35-31, but the Bulldogs grabbed a season-high 10 offensive rebounds. Both teams shot 70 percent from the free throw line.

Cornell Felton scored six points and dished out a career-high of nine assists, and the Bulldogs got three points from Sebastian Sachse, Eddie Harper and Tyson Dorsey. Terrell scored 18 points for GSU and Nate Williams chipped in a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. GSU's bench outscored Samford's 18-9.

Neither team shot well in the first half and the game was tied six times before GSU outscored the Bulldogs 7-0 in the last three minutes of the second half to take a 31-24 halftime lead.

Samford returns to action on Jan. 22, traveling to Jacksonville State for a 7 p.m. tip. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs 59-57 in Birmingham on Jan. 2.