GAME NOTES -- SAMFORD at VCU (12/4)
RICHMOND, VA. - The Samford men's basketball team returns to action Friday night as they face off against Virginia Commonwealth on the road. The game is set to tip at 6 p.m. central time as the Bulldogs enter with a 4-5 record while VCU sits at 5-3 on the season.
The Bulldogs and the Rams are meeting for the fourth time in school history, with VCU winning the previous three meetings. When last in action, the Dogs are coming off a 1-2 road trip at the Cancun Challenge. They fell to New Mexico State, 81-72 in Las Cruces and split games against Georgia State and Utah Valley in Cancun. Against the Wolverines, Samford fell 89-45 to UVU on Nov. 26 as the Dogs were led by Isaiah Campbell-Finch, who had 12 points and, Cade Norris, who scored 10 points. The Bulldogs were banged up as a team, down three starters as they were without starting point guard Keaton Norris for the road trip while Jadin Booth missed the Georgia State game and Dylan Faulkner missed the Utah Valley game.
After making double-digit threes in their first five games to start the season, the Bulldogs have now gone four straight games making 8 or fewer. Jadin Booth leads Samford in scoring, 18.8 points per game, which is second in the Southern Conference. Keaton Norris is second in the Southern Conference in assists per game with 5.4 apg. Starting big Dylan Faulkner was named to the Cancun Challenge Tournament Team after his 19-point and 6-rebound performance against Georgia State. Faulkner leads the SoCon in blocks with 1.9 per game. Since being moved to the bench, Jaxon Pollard has provided a spark with the second unit, scoring 16 against GSU and 9 against NMSU.
The Rams are coming off a 2-1 week at the Battle 4 Atlantis. They defeated USF and Virginia Tech while they fell against Vanderbilt. VCU is 3-0 at home so far this season and led by first-year head coach Phil Martelli Jr. He joins VCU after leading Bryant to two 20-win seasons and the NCAA Tournament last year. VCU was picked to finish 1st in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll and have four players who average double-figures, led by Jadarian Tracey, who scores 12.3 points per game.
The game can be seen on ESPN+ here and live stats can be followed here.
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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).
