GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. KANSAS (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The 13th-seeded Samford men's basketball team will open play in the NCAA Tournament by taking on the fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks Thursday at 8:55 p.m. (CT) at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The game can be seen live on TBS.
 
This is Samford's third NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2000. Samford and Kansas will be meeting for the first time ever in men's basketball. The last time Samford took on a Big 12 opponent was on Dec. 4, 2015, in a 59-49 loss at Texas.
 
Samford enters the game with a mark of 29-5 overall and 15-3 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs most recently earned a 76-69 win over ETSU in the SoCon Tournament championship game on March 11. Samford's 29 wins are the most wins in program history.
 
Entering Thursday's game, Samford has been led this season by Achor Achor, averaging 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories. A.J. Staton-McCray averages 11.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Jaden Campbell averages 11.1 points per game for the Bulldogs, and Jermaine Marshall scores 10.9 points per game. Rylan Jones leads the SoCon and ranks 13th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.24).
 
Samford currently ranks fifth in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 86.0 points per game. The Bulldogs also rank in the top 10 in the nation in bench points per game (5th-33.38 pg.), turnovers forced per game (6th-16.62 pg.), effective field goal percentage (6th-57.3%), three-point percentage (7th-39.3%), fast break points per game (7th-15.26 pg.) and winning percentage (8th-85.3%).
 
Samford currently leads the Southern Conference in scoring (86.0 ppg.), scoring margin (+12.0), field goal percentage (.493), turnover margin (3.44), assists (17.53 pg.) and steals (10.00 pg.).
 
The Kansas Jayhawks enter Thursday night's game with a mark of 22-10 overall and 10-8 in Big 12 Conference play. The Jayhawks are coming off a 72-52 loss to Cincinnati in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
 
Kansas has been led so far this season by Kevin McCullar Jr., averaging 18.3 points per game. Hunter Dickinson is averaging 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks. K.J. Adams Jr. averages 12.1 points per game for Kansas.
 
Thursday night's game can be seen live on TBS. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: SAMFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE.
 
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).