GAME NOTES: Mississippi College @ Samford (11.30.21)
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford (5-1) looks to continue the momentum from its Emerald Coast Classic championship into Tuesday's clash with Mississippi College (2-3) at the Pete Hanna Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the gamed will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Bulldogs won three straight over the week-long Emerald Coast Classic including a thrilling 83-75 victory in Saturday's title game with McNeese State.  

College basketball in the state of Alabama is off to a blistering start, as the Bulldogs are 5-1 heading into the final game of November. Samford is among the teams in the state with the best record. Alabama (6-1), Auburn (5-1), UAB (5-2), and South Alabama (5-2) all have at least five wins on the year.

The Choctaws come into Tuesday's showdown with the Bulldogs 2-3 overall after playing in the Texas A&M-Commerce Classic this past weekend. MC fell 72-65 to A&M-Commerce on Friday before dropping a 72-64 loss to Texas-Tyler in th event finale.

Samford and Mississippi College square off for the 68th time on Tuesday, Nov. 30, as the Bulldogs welcome the Choctaws to the Pete Hanna Center. Samford owns a 36-29 lead in the series standing including a 131-95 victory on Feb. 22, 1971, in the last meeting between the schools.

The Bulldogs come into Tuesday's clash with Mississippi College averaging 79.7 points per game. Samford is currently fourth in SoCon in points per game.

Samford is the third NCAA Division I opponent for the Choctaws this season, but the first that will count against their W-L record. Florida State defeated Mississippi College 94-51 in a season-opening exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 28 in Tallahassee, Fla. A week later, MC traveled to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech, dropping an 86-50 decision to the Bulldogs.


SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Pace of Play is a key metric for the Bulldogs, as Samford averages 80.5 possessions per game. In 2020-21, Samford led the nation at 91.0 per game.
   
• Samford men's basketball team rallied from an eight-point first half deficit to defeat McNeese State, 83-75, in the final round of the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday, Nov. 27 at Raider Arena. Ques Glover led the Bulldogs (5-1) and all scorers with 24 points while Jaden Campbell (19), Jermaine Marshall (17) and Jacob Tryon (10) joined him in double figures. Myles Lewis was the Cowboys' leading scorer with 20 points.
   
• The Bulldogs clinched the championship of their Emerald Coast Classic bracket, as Samford went undefeated over the week-long event. The Bulldogs opened the multi-team tournament with a thrilling 78-77 win at Oregon State followed by back-to-back victories over North Carolina A&T (77-75) and McNeese State (83-75).
       
• Samford is No. 1 in the SoCon in turnovers forced (18.5) and third in steals (8.3). The Bulldogs forced a season-high 33 turnovers versus Spring Hill and 27 in Saturday's 83-75 win over McNeese State.
   
• Ques Glover (6-0, 180, So.) was named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 21.7 points per game. He had a prolific week for the Bulldogs scoring a career-high 25 in Saturday's win over McNeese State, 24 versus North Carolina A&T, and 16 at Oregon State. . The Florida transfer currently leads the Southern Conference in scoring (20.0 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg). The sophomore from Knoxville, Tenn., appeared in 51 games for the Gators, averaging 3.6 points per game. Glover scored a career-high 10 versus No. 6 Tennessee, during his two seasons in Gainesville with the Gators. Prior to UF, the lightning-quick guard starred at Knoxville, Tenn., powerhouse Bearden High School, where he was named the Knoxville News Sentinel's Player of the Year in 2018, averaging 21 points per game while leading BHS to its first TSSAA Class AAA state championship.
   
• Jermaine Marshall (6-6, 225, So.) has been a force on the wing for the Bulldogs, averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. His 8.5 rebounds per game are currently No. 3 in the SoCon while his 12.8 points sit No. 16. He collected his second double-double of the year with 17 points and 12 boards in the win over Cowboys.
   
• Sophomore guard Jaden Campbell (6-5, 195, Soph.) has come on of late, averaging 16 points per game at the Emerald Coast Classic. The Brampton, Ontario native scored a career-high 19 points versus McNeese State after recording 15 versus North Carolina A&T and 14 at Oregon State. He is averaging 12.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The streaky shooter is No. 10 in the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.2) and No. 14 in 3-point FG percentage (40.5).
   
• Cooper Kaifes (6-4, 195, Soph.) has been money from 3-point range for the Bulldogs, making 2.0 per game. The Loyola-Chicago transfer is averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 17 versus Maryville in the season-opener and chipped in 11, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds left, at Oregon State.
   
• Wesley Cardet, Jr. (6-6, 205, Fr.), one of the nation's most sought after recruits, continues to develop his game in advance of Southern Conference play. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native is averaging 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Cardet was the No. 60 ranked player in the nation and No. 13 at his position by Rivals at West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Fla., for coach Kenny Gillion. The four-star combo guard, who averaged 18.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during his time at West Oaks, is one of the highest-rated student-athletes to ever sign with Samford.
   
• Senior center Jacob Tryon (6-11, 220, Sr.) has blocked eight shots through the first four games, ranking third in the league in blocks per game (1.8). The Temecula, Calif., native, is averaging 6.7 points and a career-best 6.0 boards per game after averaging 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game at the Emerald Coast Classic.
   
• The Bulldogs have played the first four games of the season without two key returners from last year's squad in A.J. Staton-McCray (6-5, 190, Fr.) and Logan Dye (6-9, 240, Jr.). The duo is out indefinitely due to injury. Staton-McCray, a Charlotte, N.C., native, averaged 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game en route to being named to the All-SoCon Freshman Team. As a junior, Dye, a Haleyville, Ala., native, played in all 19 games, averaging 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT: BELMONT

• Samford continues its home stand on Sunday, Dec. 5, as the Bulldogs welcome Belmont to the Pete Hanna Center. The Bruins went 25-6 a year ago, but fell to coach Bucky McMillan and the Bulldogs, 96-83, on Dec. 5, 2020 in Nashville. 

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:

• For the latest news and information on Samford Men's Basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordMBB (Twitter), and @SamfordMBB (Instagram).