Bulldogs Open Regular Season with 87-58 Victory over Berry

Monday, November 2

BIrmingham, Ala.

6:30 PM

Samford University

1-0,0-0SoCon

Berry

0-0,0-0SAA

Team	1	2	F
Berry	28	30	58
Samford	45	42	87

11.2.26 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with an 87-58 win over Berry inside of the Pete Hanna Center on Monday evening.

Will Shaver led the way for the Bulldogs with 17 points, while shooting 7-of-10 from the floor, which included three triples. Shaver also totaled six rebounds and four blocks. Cade Norris added 13 points while going perfect from the floor (4-for-4) and free-throw line (5-for-5). Win Miller dished out four assists.

Shaver got going early, hitting a lay-in and a three-pointer in the first minute and a half. Both teams exchanged baskets early on as the game sat tied at nine points apiece at the 15:44 mark. Shaver continued to fire, hitting back-to-back triples to put the Bulldogs ahead 15-11.

Najimi George and JD Gossett got in the scoring column in the next few minutes, and Cade Norris cashed in on a lay-in to put the Bulldogs ahead by double digits 30-19 at the 7:43 mark. Ty Davis and Isaiah Campbell-Finch added buckets in the next few minutes, as Samford led 35-23 at the final first half media timeout (3:56). The Bulldogs closed the half outscoring the Vikings 10-5 to take a 45-28 lead into the break.

Both teams traded baskets to open the second half, as Samford led 53-38 at the 15:18 mark. The Bulldogs began to find separation with a 10-0 run capped by a Norris and-one to extend the Samford lead to 63-38 at the 12:23 mark.

The Vikings responded with an 8-0 run before Win Miller connected on a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 65-46 advantage at the 9:19 mark. Samford widened its lead once again through the next few minutes, as an 8-1 run gave the Bulldogs a 73-47 advantage with 6:36 left in the contest.

The Bulldogs continued to cruise, as Gossett and Caleb Harrison cashed in on lay-ins and Judson Bjornstad connected on an emphatic slam to give Samford a 79-53 lead at the 3:21 mark.

Bradley Kemp, Zach Lamey, and Corey Brown added baskets down the stretch, as the Bulldogs secured the 87-58 win in the season opener.

Samford heads to Las Vegas, Nev., to face UNLV on Saturday, Nov. 7. First tip is set for 3:00 p.m. CST.