BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's basketball team returned to the Pete Hanna Center tonight as they played host to Florida Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs struggled from the floor tonight as they fell 77-62. Samford falls to 3-3 after the defeat, while the Eagles move to 3-2. 

The Bulldogs got off to a good start behind back-to-back baskets inside from Dylan Faulkner. After the two baskets, the Bulldogs went on a seven-minute scoring drought as they fell behind 16-4. The shooting slump was broken when Jadin Booth knocked down a three-pointer as the Samford guard scored a game-high 15 points in the first half. It was needed as the Dogs shot just 35 percent from the floor overall in the opening 20 minutes, while the visitors were over 50 percent. 

Coming off the performance that week that won him Southern Conference Player of the Week, Keaton Norris finished the night with just eight points while adding five rebounds and four assists. The Bulldogs were set to go into the half with some momentum after a Zion Wilburn breakaway dunk, but the Eagles buried a three at the buzzer to go up 41-33.

Samford cut the deficit to five points quickly in the second half after Jaxon Pollard scored three quick points and Booth knocked down a pair at the line. However, FGCU hit the Dogs with a 12-0 run over the next four minutes, and their lead ballooned up to as much as 19 with 10 minutes remaining. Samford battled to cut the deficit to 11 with four minutes left, but a series of FGCU offensive rebounds in a possession resulted in two points and ended a small Bulldog run.

The Bulldogs scored just 29 points in the second half, as they finished the night with a season-low 62 points. They shot 32 percent in the second half and connected on just 2-of-12 from three and 9-of-18 from the line. Booth had 12 of his game-high 27 points in the second half while Faulkner scored eight of his 14 points. FGCU finished the night shooting 51 percent for the game, and beat Samford on the glass 46-34. 

After playing their fourth game in eight days, the Bulldogs have another quick turnaround as they hit the road to face New Mexico State this Friday. The game is set to tip at 8 p.m. central, as the Aggies enter with a 3-0 record on the season.

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