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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University basketball team used a 20-point performance from true freshman Triston Chambers and a 12-assist outing from junior guard Christen Cunningham to defeat the Florida A&M Rattlers, 83-63, on Thursday in a nonconference contest held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
With the win, Samford (8-4) tallied its third straight victory at home and improved to 4-1 when playing in the Pete Hanna Center this season. The Bulldogs are averaging 90.4 points per game at home and boast a 13.6-point margin of victory.
 
Florida A&M (2-10), which is immediately traveling north to play at No. 14-ranked Wisconsin on Friday, trailed Samford, 42-35, at the half, but kept the game respectably close until the 13:53 mark in the second period.
 
At that point, Samford's Josh Sharkey scored on a fast-break layup following a steal and assist from Cunningham. The bucket gave the Bulldogs a 10-point lead, 56-46, and they never trailed by less than double digits for the remainder of the game.
 
Sharkey finished Thursday's contest with 12 points and tied his career high with eight assists. Only 12 games into his collegiate career, Sharkey has already tallied five outings with at least seven assists.
 
Cunningham, who earlier this season set a career-high with 13 assists, finished with 12 against Florida A&M. The Bulldogs' floor general has already handed out 77 assists this season and is well on pace to challenge Samford's single-season record of 151, which was achieved by Raijon Kelly during the 2012-13 campaign.
 
The Bulldogs' Chambers scored a team-high 20 points and tied his personal-best with six 3-point baskets. He finished 7-of-10 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
 
Samford's Justin Hopkins scored 12 points off the bench and proved to be a catalyst as the Bulldogs out-tallied the Rattlers, 38-8, in bench scoring. Hopkins also added five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
 
Sophomore center Wyatt Walker notched nine points, six rebounds, two blocks, one steal and an assist in only 22 minutes of action, while Alex Thompson and Demetrius Denzel-Dyson both finished with seven points apiece.
 
Samford outscored Florida A&M, 34-22, in the paint and 21-12 in points off turnovers. The Bulldogs also drained 11 3-point baskets and are averaging 8.3 per game this season.
 
The Samford University basketball team will take a couple days off for the Christmas break before returning home to practice in preparation for the Bulldogs' Dec. 28 home contest against Fort Valley State. Samford will host the Wildcats at 7 p.m. (CST) in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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