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CINCINNATI -- The Samford University basketball team used a 24-0 run in the first half Wednesday to garner a 16-point lead over the Cincinnati Bearcats, 33-17, and later held a 35-30 halftime advantage on the road at Fifth Third Arena, but the resurgent Bearcats outscored the Bulldogs, 40-20, in the second stanza to notch a 70-55 non-conference victory.
 
With the loss, Samford (2-2) concluded its arduous four-game road stretch with a .500 record. The Bulldogs opened its season-starting road trip with wins at San Diego, 83-65, and Campbell, 66-53, but dropped difficult matchups at New Mexico State, 58-48, and Cincinnati (4-1), 70-55.
 
Samford will next be in action Saturday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs return to Birmingham, Alabama, to face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in their home-opening contest to be held in the Pete Hanna Center. The matchup will be a part of the 2016 San Diego Classic, as will Sunday's home game against Nicholls State at 7 p.m.
 
Cincinnati jumped out to an early 8-0 lead Wednesday, and later garnered a 17-9 advantage with 11:19 remaining in the first half.
 
At that point, Samford opened its demonstrative 24-0 run with a jumper from true freshman Josh Sharkey. Then, junior guard Demetrius Denzel-Dyson drove his way to the rim for a layup and Triston Chambers drained three straight 3-point baskets to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 22-17 with 7:41 left to play in the opening half.
 
Denzel-Dyson, who paced Samford with 14 points Wednesday, scored the next five points of the contest with a driving layup and a deep 3-point basket to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 27-17.
 
Chambers, Samford's true freshman sharpshooter from Cold Springs, Alabama, then capped off the Bulldogs' 24-0 run with his fourth 3-point basket of the first half to make the score 30-17 in favor of the road squad.
 
The Bearcats closed out the period with a 13-5 stretch to make the halftime score 35-30.
 
Cincinnati maintained its momentum out of the intermission and used a quick 14-1 run in the second half to take a 44-36 lead with 14:22 left to play.
 
Samford was limited to 20 points in the second half as the Bearcats used a stingy defensive performance en route to its final 70-55 win.
 
Following Denzel-Dyson's team-high 14 points, the Bulldogs' Chambers added 12 points on four 3-pointers, while Wyatt Walker registered his fourth straight double-double to open the season with 11 points and 11 boards.
 
Walker, who entered the game ranked first in the nation in both rebounds per game (15.0) and defensive rebounds per game (11.3), scored Samford's opening nine points of the contest.
 
Cincinnati's Kyle Washington paced his team with 18 points and 12 rebounds despite only playing 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
 
The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Saturday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham for their first home contest of the 2016-17 campaign against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford will then play host to Nicholls State on Sunday at 7 p.m. (CST) in the final game of the 2016 San Diego Classic.
 
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