BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford men's basketball team built a big first-half lead and held on late to earn a key 82-78 Southern Conference win over Western Carolina Monday afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 6-7 overall and 2-4 in SoCon play. Western Carolina falls to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in league contests.


 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Christian Guess led Samford with 19 points and seven rebounds.
• Jacob Tryon had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.
• A.J. Staton-McCray and Logan Dye scored 11 points each for Samford.
• Richardson Maitre scored 10 points and dished out eight assists for the Bulldogs.
• Western Carolina was led by Mason Faulkner with 24 points.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After falling behind, 8-3, Samford went on a 9-0 run to take a 12-8 lead with 15:10 left in the first half after a jumper by Dye.
• Samford stretched its lead to 24-12 with 10:00 to go in the first half following a layup by Jaron Rillie.
• WCU scored the next five points to cut the lead to 24-17 with 9:02 left in the half after a pair of free throws by Xavier Cork.
• Samford then went on a 12-2 run to push its lead out to 36-19 with 5:35 left before halftime after two free throws by Guess.
• Western Carolina scored the next six points to cut the lead to 36-25 with 2:30 to go in the first half after a free throw by Matt Halversen.
• Samford closed the half with a 9-0 run to take a 45-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• Western Carolina cut the Samford lead to 13 points at 47-34 with 17:08 left following a jumper by Faulkner.
• After Samford pushed the lead back out to 18 points at 54-36, Western Carolina used a 16-2 run to close to within four points at 56-52 with 10:38 to play following two free throws by Cork.
• The Catamounts took a 64-63 lead with 5:48 left after a three-pointer by Faulkner.
• Samford came back to take a 72-66 lead with 3:08 left after a layup by Rillie.
• Western Carolina cut the lead to one point at 78-77 with 29 seconds left after a layup by Faulkner.
• Samford's Maitre then hit two free throws to give the Bulldogs an 80-77 advantage with 14.5 seconds to go.
• WCU's Faulkner then made one-of-two free throw attempts to cut the lead to 80-78, and Maitre grabbed the rebound for Samford.
• Maitre then made both free throws to make the score 82-78 with 7.3 seconds to go.
• Samford held on for the 82-78 victory.

 

UP NEXT

• Samford will host to Chattanooga Wednesday, Jan. 20. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.