GAME NOTES: Belmont @ Samford (12.5.21)
Complete game release in PDF format

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Bulldogs (6-1) of Samford are set to host the Bruins (6-3) of Belmont in a Mid-Major clash on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Pete Hanna Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Curt Bloom, Murray Bartow and Courtney Johnson have the call. 

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

Coming off a 25-6 campaign a year ago, the Bruins come into Sunday's game 6-3 overall. Belmont defeated Lipscomb 94-65 on Thursday at the Curb Event Center in Nashville for its sixth win of the season. Jacobi Wood led the Bruins with 17 points while Ben Sheppard added 16 points. Belmont also finished the night with 25 assists.

Belmont is averaging 78.6 points per game offensively while surrendering 71.9. Nick Muszynski leads the Bruins in scoring at 18.1 points per game with Ben Sheppard (16.2) and Will Richard (10.0) averaging double digits.

The Bruins are deadly from 3-point range, shooting 34.4 percent. Will Richard's 42.9 percent leads the club.    

Samford and Belmont are meeting for the 30th time on the hardwood Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bruins lead the all-time series 17-12, but the Bulldogs claimed a thrilling 96-83 victory over Belmont at the Curb Event Center on Dec. 5, 2020 in the last meeting between the schools. Jacob Tryon had 16 points and seven rebounds while A.J. Staton-McCray finished with 15 points.


SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Samford is No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 14 nationally in turnovers forced (19.1). SU is also second in steals (9.1). The Bulldogs forced a season-high 33 turnovers versus Spring Hill and 23 versus MC on Tuesday.
   
• The Bulldogs come into Sunday's match-up averaging 80.1 points per game to ranked third in the SoCon.
   
• Pace of Play is a key metric for the Bulldogs, as Samford averages 83.5 possessions per game. In 2020-21, Samford led the nation at 91.0 per game.
   
• Samford picked up its fourth straight win with an 83-58 victory over Mississippi College (2-4) on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the Pete Hanna Center. Jacob Tryon had his best game at home for the Bulldogs (6-1) with 16 points and six rebounds. Jaden Campbell and Wesley Cardet joined him in double digits with 12 and 11, respectively. Zach Jones led MC with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
   
• Ques Glover (6-0, 180, So.) has made a remarkable impact on the Bulldogs so far this year, leading the SoCon in scoring at 18.3 points per game while dishing out 4.4 assists a game. He was named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 21.7 points and leading Samford to the ECC Mid-Major Championship. He had a prolific ECC Tournament week for the Bulldogs scoring a career-high 25 versus McNeese State, 24 versus North Carolina A&T, and 16 at Oregon State.
   
• Jaden Campbell (6-5, 195, Soph.) has continued to become a reliable scorer for the Bulldogs, averaging 12.0 points per game, ranking No. 20 in the league. 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. The streaky shooter is No. 8 in the league in 3-point FG percentage (40.5).
   
• Jermaine Marshall (6-6, 225, So.) has been a force on the wing for the Bulldogs, averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. His 8.0 rebounds per game are currently No. 5 in the SoCon while his 11.7 points sit No. 21. He collected his second double-double of the year with 17 points and 12 boards in the win over McNeese State.
   
• Senior center Jacob Tryon (6-11, 220, Sr.) had a huge night for Samford, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds against Mississippi College. The Temecula, Calif., native, is averaging 8.0 points and a career-best 6.0 boards per game. He is currently No. 16 in the league in rebounding.
   
• 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 9.3 points and 3.7 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.
   
• 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).
   
• The Bulldogs have played the first seven 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.

UP NEXT: ALABAMA STATE

• The Bulldogs travel to Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday, Dec. 8, as Samford faces Alabama State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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).