BOX SCORE (PDF)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Samford men's basketball team was eliminated from the Southern Conference Tournament, 96-78, by VMI Friday night in the opening round at Harrah's Cherokee Center.
 
With the loss, Samford ends its season with a record of 10-23. VMI improves to 9-23, and the Keydets advance to play the No. 1 seed, ETSU in Saturday's quarterfinal round.


FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Brandon Austin led Samford in scoring with 20 points.
• Josh Sharkey had 19 points and 10 assists.
• Robert Allen scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
• Deandre Thomas added 10 points for the Bulldogs.
• VMI was led by Jake Stephens with 24 points.

 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• VMI started the game off hot, racing out to a 13-4 lead with 16:09 to go in the first half.
• The Keydets built a 28-14 lead with 9:04 to play in the opening half.
• VMI led by as many as 24 points in the first half at 50-26.
• The Keydets took a 52-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• VMI built a 34-point lead at 69-35 with 15:04 to go in the game.
• Samford answered with a 14-2 run to cut the lead to 71-49 with 10:55 to go after a three-pointer by Logan Padgett.
• Samford cut the lead to 16 points at 91-75, but the Bulldogs could get no closer as VMI came away with the 96-78 win.

 
UP NEXT

• The loss ends the 2019-20 season for Samford.