Box Score
Updated Stats

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- The Samford University basketball team opened Southern Conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time in school history Monday as the Bulldogs used late free throws from its backcourt and a decisive steal from true freshman Josh Sharkey to stave off a second-half rally from the homestanding Western Carolina Catamounts at the Ramsey Center, 70-65.
 
With the victory, Samford (11-4, 2-0 SoCon) extended its winning streak to four consecutive games and remained undefeated in conference play this season. The last time that the Bulldogs started league play with a 2-0 record was during the 2006-07 campaign, which proved to be Samford's second-to-last season in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
Monday's triumph also proved to be just the Bulldogs' second all-time win on the road at Western Carolina (5-10, 0-2 SoCon). Heading into the game, Samford was only 1-8 all-time when playing at the Ramsey Center.
 
Next up, the Bulldogs will return home to Birmingham, Alabama, and get prepared to host three straight SoCon home games in the next eight days. Samford is scheduled to face Furman on Thursday at 7 p.m. (CST), Wofford on Saturday at 6 p.m., and Mercer on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.
 
Following a 9-0 run from the Bulldogs midway through the second half, Samford garnered its largest lead of the game, 49-38, with 13:22 left to play in the contest.
 
Western Carolina then strung together a 20-3 run in the next seven minutes to take its biggest advantage of the game, 58-52, with 6:10 remaining. During the scoring streak, the Catamounts knocked down four of their 10 3-pointers in the game.
 
Down the stretch, Samford continued to chip away at Western Carolina's lead and used a fast-break layup from Demetrius Denzel-Dyson at the 2:32 mark to regain the advantage, 64-63.
 
The Bulldogs' Sharkey then drained four straight free throws and came up with a huge steal in the final 1:21 to secure the victory. Samford's Christen Cunningham iced the game away with a pair of free throws at the nine-second mark to make the final score, 70-65.
 
Denzel-Dyson paced the Bulldogs with 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal, while sophomore center Wyatt Walker notched his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Walker entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in double-doubles.
 
Samford's Cunningham, who is now just 32 points shy of reaching the prestigious 1,000-point plateau, tallied nine points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal. Sharkey also finished with nine points, four assists, but added seven huge steals and a blocked shot.
 
Sharkey currently leads the team with 34 steals this season.
 
The Bulldogs' Alex Thompson chipped in with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in only 17 minutes of playing time.
 
Samford only shot 30.8 percent from 3-point range, its third worst performance of the season. The Bulldogs only shot worse in games at New Mexico State (21.4) and Cincinnati (29.6).
 
In identical totals, Samford outscored Western Carolina, 22-12, in both points in the paint and points off turnovers.
 
The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Thursday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs begin a momentous three-game conference homestand against the Furman Paladins to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford will then play host to Wofford on Saturday at 6 p.m., and Mercer on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordHoopsFOE and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

Box Score
Updated Stats