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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In a second half filled with scoring runs from both teams Thursday, the Samford University basketball team found itself on the wrong end of a decision for the first time in Southern Conference play this season as the visiting Furman Paladins closed out the game on a 26-11 tally, including a pivotal 14-0 run to garner the 83-73 win held in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The loss proved to be the first for Samford (11-5, 2-1 SoCon) since Dec. 19, when the Bulldogs dropped an eight-point decision, 76-68, on the road at No. 21-ranked Florida State.
 
Prior to Thursday's loss, Samford was in the midst of a four-game winning streak, which included victories against Florida A&M, Fort Valley State, UNCG and Western Carolina.
 
With its win, Furman (10-6, 3-0 SoCon) moved to 3-0 in SoCon play for the first time since the 1985-86 campaign. The Paladins with travel northeast to face preseason-favorite Chattanooga on Saturday.
 
The Bulldogs will also be in action Saturday as they remain at home to play Wofford at 6 p.m. (CST) in the late portion of a Samford basketball doubleheader. Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs' women's team is slated to host ETSU at 2 p.m., in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford led by as many as four points in the first half Thursday, but the Paladins used 13 points from Preseason All-SoCon member Devin Sibley to take an 38-33 advantage into the locker room. Sibley only missed one shot in the first half and connected on a trio of long range baskets in the opening 20 minutes of action.
 
Early in the second half, Furman built its lead up to eight points, 48-40, but Samford later answered with a 13-2 run of its own to take its largest advantage of the game at 62-57.
 
Furman, following a timeout and momentary switch to a 2-3 zone defense, then bounced back with a decisive 14-0 run that essentially put the game out of reach.
 
The Paladins used the stretch to take a 71-62 lead with 2:45 remaining and the Bulldogs weren't able to get any closer than seven points.
 
The loss proved to be just Samford's second home defeat of the season. On Nov. 27, the Bulldogs also suffered a heartbreaker against Nicholls State, 106-103, in double overtime.
 
Sophomore center Wyatt Walker led Samford with 18 points and nine rebounds, while shooting 8-of-14 from the field. Junior point guard Christen Cunningham followed with 15 points and eight assists. He is now just 17 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point plateau for his career.
 
Junior Demetrius Denzel-Dyson and Josh Sharkey both finished with 12 points. Denzel-Dyson added four rebounds and a pair of high-flying, fast-break dunks, while Sharkey notched four assists and two steals.
 
Furman's senior forward Kris Acox turned in the best performance of the night with 19 points, 12 rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes of action. He finished the game with a 9-of-15 shooting performance from the floor.
 
The Samford University basketball team will remain at home to square off against the Wofford Terriers on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CST) in yet another high-profile league contest to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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