GAME NOTES -- ETSU vs. SAMFORD

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's basketball team returns to the Pete Hanna Center on Saturday, Jan. 17, to host ETSU in a key Southern Conference matchup. The Bulldogs enter at 9-9 overall and 2-3 in SoCon play, while the Buccaneers sit at 12-6 and 4-1 in the league.

The two sides meet for the 26th time, with ETSU leading the all-time series 18-7. The Buccaneers swept the 2024-25 regular-season meetings, winning 65-60 in Birmingham and 66-59 in Johnson City. The last championship encounter went Samford's way, a 76-69 victory on March 11, 2024, to capture the Southern Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.

The Dogs were led by both of their centers as Dylan Faulkner finished with a double-double, 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Will Shaver scored a career-high 15 points in 13 minutes off the bench. Samford struggled from behind the three-point line, finishing 5-of-20 from deep, the second-lowest amount of makes this season. Jadin Booth was held to 12 points against the Paladins, his lowest mark in SoCon play so far this season as he went 4-for-11 from the floor. He did add five assists and four rebounds. After shooting 54 percent from the floor in the first half, Samford was held to 34 percent in the second half. 

Booth leads the SoCon in points per game and three-point makes per game. Faulkner is 20th in the nation in field goal percentage, 61.9 percent. According to KenPom, the Bulldogs are the 4th-best team in the country in offensive turnover percentage.

ETSU enters the game with a 12-6 record on the season and is 4-1 in SoCon play. The Buccaneers are coming off a 72-68 loss against Western Carolina in their previous game. Head coach Brooks Savage is in his third season at ETSU and has won 19 games in the previous two years. ETSU was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll and Jaylen Smith was named a Preseason All-Conference Player. The Bucs have a three-headed attack on offense as Brian Taylor II, Cam Morris III, and Blake Barkley all average 14 points per game.

The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network here and live stats can be followed here.

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).