Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In front of a season-high 2,236 raucous fans at the Pete Hanna Center, the Samford University basketball team extended its winning streak to four-consecutive games Saturday by registering a huge 72-68 Southern Conference victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
 
“This was another big win for us tonight and we were able to hit some shots,” said Samford head coach Bennie Seltzer. “We shot 55 percent for the game and we were able to score some points, but in order for us to win consistently, we have to do it with defense. I thought we played much better defensively in the second half. Also, the crowd was unbelievable tonight and they did a great job. They really helped us out and I know our guys really enjoyed playing in front of them.”
 
With Saturday's win, Samford (7-12, 5-1 SoCon) matched its longest conference winning streak in nearly three years since the Bulldogs earned consecutive SoCon triumphs over Western Carolina, Appalachian State, Elon and UNCG from Jan. 15-24, 2009. Samford's current winning stretch also includes wins against College of Charleston, The Citadel and Western Carolina.
 
Appalachian State (7-10, 3-3 SoCon) concluded its weekend road trip with an 0-2 record against SoCon North Division opponents. On Thursday, the Mountaineers led by 19 points at Chattanooga with only 6:36 left to play in the game, but couldn't withstand a furious Mocs' comeback in a 91-88 overtime loss held at The McKenzie Arena.
 
On Saturday, Samford led by as many as eight points early in the first half before Appalachian State battled back to take a two-point advantage, 39-37, with 2:41 remaining in the period. The Bulldogs then went on to use a deep 3-pointer from Clide Geffrard, Jr., a put-back layup from Brandon Hayman and a thunderous two-handed dunk from Tim Williams to close out the half with a 46-41 advantage.
 
Samford's Geffrard, Jr., and Hayman both played key roles in the Bulldogs' SoCon victory Saturday.
 
Geffrard, Jr., a true freshman from Pompano Beach, Fla., scored a game-high 20 points on a stellar 8-of-12 shooting performance from the field. Samford's 6-foot-5 forward also drained four 3-point baskets and added five rebounds and a trio of assists.
 
“Clide is a very talented player,” said Seltzer. “He went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc tonight and that 1-of-12 night that he had against Chattanooga was really humbling for him, so he's starting to drive the ball to the basket more and that's opening up the passing lanes for him as well. He had three assists tonight, so I'm really proud of Clide and I'm excited for him because he's really worked hard.”
 
Hayman, who didn't see playing time in the previous three games, came off the bench with a fury Saturday and registered a career-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, all while tallying three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Hayman's previous career-high in scoring was 10, which he achieved at Sam Houston State on Dec. 28, 2011.
 
“Brandon hasn't played much lately, but I told him the other day to just stay ready,” Seltzer said. “You never know when you're number is going to be called and it would be a shame if your number is called and you're not ready. I know he hasn't played as much as he's wanted to, but he did an unbelievable job for us tonight both offensively and rebounding-wise. He also finished everything around the basket, so I'm happy for him. He really played well.”
 
Immediately to start the second half, Appalachian State received back-to-back 3-pointers from Nathan Healy and Tab Hamilton to take a slight 47-46 advantage with 18:57 remaining in the game.
 
On the next three possessions, Hayman scored back-to-back layups, including a steal and fast-break bucket, and Geffrard, Jr., drained a 3-pointer to give Samford a 53-47 advantage. The Bulldogs would never trail again.
 
“Our guys are starting to understand the intensity level that we expect from them and they are also starting to understand how hard to have to play in order to win,” Seltzer said. “They are understanding that defense wins. If you stop the opponent more times than they stop you, then you have a great chance of winning.”
 
Late in Saturday's contest, Appalachian State's Mike Neal converted a 3-point play with 10:54 remaining in the game to pull within a point of Samford, 59-58. The Bulldogs then responded with a jumper from Geffrard, Jr., a layup from Hayman and a baseline 7-footer from Connor Miller to increase their lead to 65-58 with 6:14 left to play.
 
Samford played solid defense down the stretch to register the 72-68 victory. The Bulldogs' four-point win proved to be their third-consecutive triumph by exactly four points. Samford defeated The Citadel, 69-65, and Western Carolina, 64-60.
 
Sophomore Raijon Kelly scored 15 points and handed out a game-high seven assists for the Bulldogs Saturday, while Williams, Samford's true freshman forward from Chicago, Ill., finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes of playing time.
 
The Bulldogs shot a sizzling 54.5 percent from the field and a brilliant 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point range. Samford also finished with 17 assists and only committed nine turnovers. Appalachian State out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 34-27, on Saturday, but Samford dominated points in the paint, 38-22.
 
Appalachian State finished with four players scoring double figures and was paced by Jay Canty's 19 points. Hamilton chipped in with 16 points and four 3-point baskets, while Heally and Neal both finished with 11 points apiece. The Mountaineers' Michael Obacha was strong on the boards Saturday and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
“Appalachian State has a very good basketball team and Coach (Jason) Capel has done a really good job of getting those guys to play,” Seltzer said. “Jay Canty was unconscious in the first half and we couldn't stop him. That was just the bottom line, so we knew we had to do a better job on him in the second half and we did. That was a very good basketball team that we were able to beat tonight.”
 
The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Thursday at 6 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs travel to Greensboro, N.C., for a date with the UNCG Spartans to be held at the Greensboro Coliseum.