BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford Men's Basketball Team shot 53 percent from the floor and knocked down a season-high 14 threes in its 87-78 Southern Conference victory over VMI on Wednesday from the Pete Hanna Center.
The win improves the Bulldogs to 9-7 overall and 3-0 in conference play, marking the program's best start to SoCon action since joining the league in 2008. VMI falls to 5-11 overall and 0-3 in SoCon competition.
Jermaine Marshall stuffed the stat sheet with a 16-point, 10-rebound performance for his second double-double in as many games. Marshall also dished out a career-high six assists while shooting 60 percent (6-10) on field goals.
Logan Dye finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double, registering a game-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds. Nathan Johnson recorded 13 points and five assists while Bubba Parham added 10 points.
The Bulldogs were en Fuego from the field in the first half, converting on 15-28 field goals (54 %) and a season-best nine of 16 treys (56%). Marshall and Dye both tallied 10 points in the half while Quinn Richey provided a spark off the bench by going 3-3 from downtown.
Eight different Bulldogs scored at least two points while six connected on at least one three-point shot.
The half saw seven lead changes and nine tied scores. Following a Keydet layup that tied the score at 34-all with 4:34 remaining, the Bulldogs ended the half on a 12-5 scoring run to take a 46-39 lead into the break.
Samford held the lead for the entire second half, with its largest advantage coming at the 14:43 mark courtesy of a trey from Parham that put them up 63-50.
The Keydets battled back to get within a point following a three at the 11:06 mark that made it 65-64. A Jaden Campbell three-ball got the offense back going, followed by five huge points from A.J. Staton-McCray on an and-one and a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs a 73-64 lead.
The Bulldogs kept VMI at bay by outscoring them 14-11 over the final eight minutes to give way to the 78-69 final score.
In addition to reaching a season-high in threes, the Bulldogs amassed a season-best 20 assists on the night. Four players finished with at least two assists, with eight finishing with at least one on the evening.
Samford accounted for 27 bench points, 24 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers, and 15 second-chance points. The Bulldogs once again dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Keydets 34-25.
The Bulldogs will hit the road for their next SoCon contest on Saturday, Jan. 7 against UNC Greensboro. Tip-off from Greensboro, N.C. is set for 3:00 p.m. CST.
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