BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford men's basketball team earned a 77-60 victory over South Carolina State Sunday evening in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 7-1 on the season. This marks the best start after eight games since the 1996-97 team also started with a 7-1 mark. South Carolina State falls to 1-6 with the loss.
 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Kevion Nolan led Samford with a career-high 21 points in the win.
• Brandon Austin scored 13 points for Samford.
• Robert Allen had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Ruben Guerrero added 11 points and seven rebounds.
• Myron Gordon added 10 points for Samford.
• South Carolina State was led by Damani Applewhite with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• Janai Raynor-Powell added 13 points for the visiting Bulldogs.

 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Samford jumped out to an early 11-7 lead with 16:09 to go in the first half after a free throw by Gordon.
• With Samford leading, 13-9, South Carolina State scored the next five points to take a 14-13 lead with 13:08 left in the opening half.
• Samford answered with a 9-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with 9:00 left in the first half after a layup by Nolan.
• Samford pushed its lead to 14 points at 35-21 with 2:18 left in the half following a jumper by Allen.
• Samford took a 39-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• Early in the second half, Samford pushed its lead to 20 points at 48-28 with 15:23 to go after a jumper by Nolan.
• South Carolina State scored 11 of the next 12 points to cut the lead to 10 points at 49-39 with 12:29 left in the game.
• South Carolina State cut the lead to just five points at 63-58 with 4:51 left in the contest.
• Samford, however, ended the game with a 14-2 run to pull away for the 77-60 victory.

 
UP NEXT
Samford will play host to the Belmont Bruins, Thursday, Nov. 29. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.