GAME NOTES: Samford @ Alabama State (12.8.21)
Complete game release in PDF format

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Bulldogs (6-2) of Samford travel to Montgomery on Wednesday, Dec. 8 to face the Hornets (1-7) of Alabama State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on YouTube TV.  

Samford and Alabama State are meeting for the sixth time on the hardwood Wednesday and the first time since the 1992 season. The Hornets lead the all-time series standings 4-1, but the Bulldogs claimed an 86-76 victory in the last meeting between the schools on Dec. 8, 1992 in Birmingham.

Alabama State has faced a formidable schedule early on, posting a 1-7 record coming into Wednesday's game. The Hornets, who are led by former Alabama great and NBA All-Star Mo Williams, have lost two straight after dropping a 93-54 decision at Dayton and an 81-69 loss to North Alabama. ASU's lone win on the year came against NCAA Division II Tuskegee, 91-65, on Nov. 22 in  Montgomery.

Despite a career-high 22 points and 13 rebounds from Jermaine Marshall and 22 points and six assists from Ques Glover, the Samford fell 85-73 to Belmont (7-3) on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs (6-2) had a huge second half, outscoring Belmont 48-39. Will Richard led four Bruins in double figures with 23 points.

The Hornets are averaging 68.9 points per game while giving up 84 a contest. Alabama State scored a season-high 91 versus Tuskegee on Nov. 22 in a 91-65 victory.   

Alabama State has two players averaging in double figures. Gerald Liddell, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, leads the team at 11.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Trace Young, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, is turning in 10.8 points as well.  

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Samford is No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 13 nationally in turnovers forced (19.0). SU is also second in steals (9.0). The Bulldogs forced a season-high 33 turnovers versus Spring Hill and 21 versus Belmont.
   
• The Bulldogs come into Sunday's match-up averaging 79.2 points per game to rank fifth in the SoCon.
   
• Pace of Play is a key metric for the Bulldogs, as Samford averages 84.5 possessions per game. In 2020-21, Samford led the nation at 91.0 per game.
   
• Jermaine Marshall (6-6, 225, So.) had his best game as a Bulldog on Sunday versus Belmont, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.  He has been a force on the wing for the Bulldogs, averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds per game. His 8.6 rebounds per game are currently No. 2 in the SoCon while his 13.0 points sit No. 17.
   
• Ques Glover (6-0, 180, So.) has made a remarkable impact on the Bulldogs so far this year, leading the SoCon in scoring at 18.8 points per game while dishing out 4.6 assists a game. The Knoxville, Tenn., native, scored 22 points and dished out six assists against Belmont on Sunday. 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.
   
• Senior center Jacob Tryon (6-11, 220, Sr.) has scored in double figures in three straight games after turning in 10 points and five rebounds versus Belmont. Tryon had a season-high 16 points versus Mississippi College and 10 against McNeese State in the Emerald Coast Classic championship game. The Temecula, Calif., native, is averaging 8.3 points and a career-best 5.9 boards per game. He is No. 18 in the SoCon in rebounding.
   
• Jaden Campbell (6-5, 195, Soph.) has been a reliable source of offense for the Bulldogs, averaging 10.8 points per game, ranking No. 24 in the league. The Brampton, Ontario native scored a career-high 19 points versus McNeese State after making a career-high five 3-pointers versus North Carolina A&T in the Emerald Coast Classic.
   
• College basketball in the state of Alabama is off to a blistering start, as the  Bulldogs are 6-2 heading into the first weekend of December. Samford is among the teams in the state with the best record. Alabama (7-1), Auburn (7-1), UAB (6-2), and South Alabama (8-2) all have at least six wins.
   
• 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 8.1 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 eight 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 A&M

• Samford returns to the Pete Hanna Center on Saturday, Dec. 11, as the Bulldogs host Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 6 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).