BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's basketball team hosted Southern Conference leaders ETSU today at the Pete Hanna Center. In front of a strong crowd, the Bulldogs came to life in the second half, taking a late lead but falling in the final seconds against the Bucs 76-75. With the loss, Samford moves to 9-10 overall and 2-4 in Southern Conference play.

Once again, the Bulldogs got off to a slow start against, this time against the top defense in the conference. They held the Bulldogs to 10-of-24 shooting in a slow-paced half. Jadin Booth led the way for Samford with 13 points in the half, as he hit on 4-of-7 shooting. Dylan Faulkner scored eight of his 12 points in the first half and Kam Martin provided a spark from deep off the bench. The Buccaneers went 6-of-9 from behind the three-point line and 10-of-10 from the line to build a 38-31 halftime lead.

Action picked up in the second half as ETSU dominated the game in the paint, and the Bulldogs caught fire from three. Samford was outscored 30-10 down low in the half, but they made up for it outscoring ETSU by 27 points from three in the second 20 minutes. Samford went 9-for-19 while the visitors attempted just three. 

Cade Norris took over in the middle of the second half. He scored all 16 of his points in the second half, going 7-of-9 from the floor. He got help from his brother Keaton Norris, who had 12 points of his own in the second 20 minutes of play, including huge baskets down the stretch.

The lead was never more than five points for the final 16 minutes of the game. ETSU led for 38 minutes, but a late Bulldogs charge put them ahead. Down four with 26 seconds left, Keaton Norris got a quick two at the rim. The Dogs called a timeout to set up the press which was successful when Booth forced a turnover. The ball came to Keeton Norris at the top of the key, who buried his second three of the half to put Samford up one with seven seconds left. The Bucs raced down the floor and missed a contested layup, but the Bulldogs block attempt left the offensive glass open, which ETSU took advantage of as a put-back with two seconds left put them ahead 76-75.

Jadin Booth paced Samford with 19 points and tied his season high with five assists, marking his eighth consecutive game in double figures. Cade Norris tallied a career-high 16 points, matched his career best with six field goals and three three-pointers, and hit a clutch shot to give Samford its first second-half lead. Keaton Norris recorded 14 points and a game-high six assists, including the late go-ahead triple. Dylan Faulkner anchored the paint with 12 points, seven rebounds and tied his Samford career high with four blocks.

Samford (9-10, 2-4 SoCon) continues conference play Wednesday, Jan. 21, traveling to face Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., at 6 p.m. Wofford is 11-7 on the season and faces Furman tonight on the road.

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