BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In a game of runs, the Samford men's basketball team earned an 80-77 Southern Conference win over The Citadel Thursday night in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 12-7 overall and 2-4 in Southern Conference play. The Citadel falls to 9-8 overall and 1-5 in league contests.


 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Brandon Austin scored a career-high 28 points, and tied a career high with 10 rebounds to lead Samford to the win.
• Josh Sharkey scored 23 points and dished out eight assists.
• Myron Gordon scored 13 points for the Bulldogs.
• Ruben Guerrero grabbed 10 rebounds for Samford.
• Matt Frierson led The Citadel with 27 points.
• Hayden Brown scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Samford started the game off hot, scoring the first 12 points of the contest.
• The Citadel fought back to cut the lead in half at 14-8 with 14:46 to play in the opening half.
• The visiting Bulldogs battled to take a 26-18 lead at the 6:59 mark in the first half.
• The Citadel pushed its lead to as many as 10 points on two occasions in the first half, at 29-19 and 31-21.
• Samford, however, closed the half with a 13-0 run to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• The Citadel closed to within two points at 41-39 with 17:56 to go in the contest.
• Samford extended its lead back out to 11 points at 58-47 with 12:33 to go after a dunk by Austin.
• The Citadel scored the next eight points to cut the lead to three at 58-55 with 10:31 left in the game.
• Samford pushed its lead out to 14 points at 73-59 after a three-pointer by Sharkey with 4:51 remaining in the contest.
•  The Citadel closed to within three at 74-71, but could get no closer as Samford pulled out the 80-77 victory.

 
UP NEXT

• Samford will play host to Mercer Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.