GAME NOTES: Samford @ Ole Miss (12.21.21)
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Bulldogs (9-2) wrap-up non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 21, as Samford travels to Oxford, Miss., to face the Rebels (8-3) of Ole Miss. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at The Pavilion. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Will Kollmeyer (PxP) and John Stroud (Analyst) on the call. Live stats and tickets are also available at OleMissSports.com.     

Samford and Ole Miss are meeting for the first time since the 2002-03 season and the ninth time in series history. The Bulldogs fell 57-49 on Dec. 31, 2002, at the Tad Smith Coliseum in the last meeting with the Rebels, who lead the all-time series 8-0.

The Bulldogs are coming into the game having won three in a row and seven of their last eight after a thrilling 85-84 victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday at the Pete Hanna Center. Ques Glover's 15-foot jumper with 6.0 seconds left gave the Bulldogs the win. He finished with  22 points while Jaden Campbell (12), Logan Dye (12), and Quinn Richey (12) joined him in double figures. Terrell Burden led the Owls with 23.

Samford was at full strength for the first time all season versus Kennesaw State, as A.J. Staton-McCray (6-5, Fr., G) and Logan Dye (6-9, Jr., F) made their debuts. Dye finished with 12 points and three rebounds with Staton-McCray adding five points.  The tandem missed the first 10 games due to injury. In 2020-21, the duo accounted for a combined 19.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Ole Miss is off to an 8-3 start to the season after a 76-68 victory over Dayton Saturday at The Pavilion. The Rebels have played a solid non-conference schedule, winning five of their last six games, including a 67-63 victory over No. 18 Memphis. Ole Miss is also 7-0 at home so far this year.

The Rebels have been a defensive-minded unit through their first 11 games, holding opponents to 62.4 points per game. Ole Miss has held its opposition to 60 or fewer points four times, including a season-low 51 versus Rider in a 75-51 victory.   

Samford is averaging 76.8 points per game while giving up 72.0 entering Tuesday's game at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss, which averages 70.2 points per game, is led by Jarkel Joiner, a 6-foot-1 senior guard. The Oxford, Miss., native, is averaging 14.7 points per game and has scored in double figures 10 times with a season-high 24 versus Charleston Southern. The Rebels, also have eight student-athletes turning in 5-plus points.


SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Samford is No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 18 nationally in turnovers forced (17.1) and No. 2 in steals (8.5). The Bulldogs forced a season-high 33 turnovers versus Spring Hill.

Entering play this week, all 10 Southern Conference squads are above .500 on the season. Only the Big 12, Mountain West and Big East can claim that all of its members are above .500. The SoCon is now ranked 9th among all conferences in terms of league RPI and 13th among all conferences according to KenPom. The SEC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West, Pac-12, ACC, West Coast, Southern, and American Athletic in the top 10 in the RPI rankings.

Hard work and dedication create luck on the court and entering the final two non-conference games of the season for Samford, KenPom.com ranks the Bulldogs No. 1 in Luck with a +.276 rating. For more on the data analysis visit KenPom.com/RankLuck.

Pace of Play is a key metric for the Bulldogs, as Samford averages 72.5 possessions per game. In 2020-21, Samford led the nation at 91.0 per game.

Mr. Double-Double Jermaine Marshall (6-6, 225, So.) recorded his third double-double and fifth this season with 12 points and a career-high 14 boards versus Alabama A&M. The Akron transfer has been a force on the wing for the Bulldogs, averaging 12.4 points and a SoCon-leading 9.2 rebounds per game. He is one of the few players in the league that ranks in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding through 11 games.

Ques Glover (6-0, 180, So.)has made a remarkable impact on the Bulldogs so far this year, ranking No. 3 the SoCon in scoring at 19.1 points per game while dishing out 4.4 assists a game. The Knoxville, Tenn., native, scored 22 points and dished out three assists in Saturday's win over Kennesaw State.
 
With Saturday's 85-84 win over Kennesaw State, the Bulldogs moved to 4-0 in games decided by three points or less.

The Bulldogs are 8-0 when leading at halftime this season and 7-0 on the year when controlling the opening tipoff.

Jaden Campbell (6-5, 195, Soph.) has been a major spark for the Bulldogs, averaging 10.5 points per game, tied for No. 24 in the league. The Brampton, Ontario native scored a career-high 19 points versus McNeese State and turned in his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds at Alabama State.

Samford's bench has outscored the opposition six times this season, leading to a 6-0 mark in those contests.
 
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 10.0 points, which ranks 27th in the SoCon, and 4.3 rebounds per game after scoring a career-high 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds at Alabama State. Cardet was the No. 60 ranked player in the nation and No. 13 at his position by Rivals at West Oaks.


UP NEXT: FURMAN
Samford opens Southern Conference action on Wednesday, Dec. 29, as the Bulldogs travel to Furman. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in Greensville, S.C., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. The Bulldogs were picked to finish eighth in the annual SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll with the Paladins tabbed second.


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).