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VALPARAISO, Ind. -- The Samford University basketball team was outscored by the Valparaiso Crusaders, 49-31, in the second half of action Tuesday as the Bulldogs suffered an 88-67 road defeat held at the ARC (Athletics-Recreation Center) on the campus of Valparaiso University.
 
With the loss, Samford (1-4) fell to 0-4 when playing on the road this year. The Bulldogs defeated Alabama A&M at home on Nov. 13, 87-68, but has faced a challenging road slate this season with tough non-conference tests at Arkansas, LSU, Loyola (Chicago) and Valpo (5-0).
 
Samford will next be in action Friday at 1 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs play host to the Southeastern Louisiana Lions in a 2017 Savannah Invitational contest to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Valpo entered Tuesday's contest boasting a margin of victory of 34.2 points per game this year.
 
With 15:30 remaining in the second half, Samford led the Crusaders by a score of 48-45. Valpo then embarked upon a 28-9 run in the game to garner a 73-57 advantage in the contest. The Crusaders went on to hang on for the 88-67 win.
 
The Bulldogs outscored Valpo, 17-9, in points off turnovers Tuesday, but the Crusaders outrebounded Samford, 50-18, including a 20-8 margin on the offensive half of the court.
 
Junior guard Justin Coleman made his first career start and finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. He also drained four 3-point baskets and handed out a pair of assists.
 
Samford also received 11 points off the bench from junior forward Stefan Lakic and 10 points from senior Alex Thompson.
 
Valpo was paced offensively by Tevonn Walker with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
 
The Crusaders are in the midst of their first season as members of the Missouri Valley Conference after spending the previous 10 years in the Horizon League. In fact, Valpo is coming off its third consecutive Horizon League regular season title and its fifth in the last six years, posting a 14-4 mark within league play and a 24-9 record overall last year.
 
The Crusaders replaced Wichita State, which left the MVC (in hoops only) to join the American Athletic Conference. 
 
Samford will next be in action Friday at 1 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham, Alabama, for a matchup against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, which will be held in the friendly confines of the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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