Samford defeats W Carolina 82-77
W Carolina Stuns Samford in Thrilling Comeback Victory
In a dramatic turn of events, Samford pulled off a stunning comeback at home, defeating visiting W Carolina 82-77 on Wednesday night.
The largest lead for either team came early, with Samford taking an eight-point advantage (7 points) midway through the first half. However, W Carolina managed to keep pace and led by as few as four points at halftime (34-38). The real drama unfolded in the second half, as Samford erased a 4-point deficit and took control of the contest.
The difference-maker for Samford was Jadin Booth, who scored 31 points on 5-for-9 three-point shooting (57.9% FG) and grabbed five rebounds. Cade Norris chipped in with seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
On the other side, W Carolina's Samuel Dada led the way with 19 points but struggled to find his range beyond the paint, finishing at an impressive 85.7% from two-point territory.
The key difference between the two teams came on the defensive end. Samford's ability to contain W Carolina's outside shooting allowed them to stay in the game despite being outrebounded 23-15. Conversely, W Carolina struggled to defend against Samford's three-point attack, allowing the Bulldogs to exploit this weakness and take control.
In a testament to their resilience, Samford outscored W Carolina in each of the four quarters, with the largest lead coming at the end of the third (49-44). The final margin ultimately came down to 5 points, with Samford emerging victorious.
This thrilling victory not only marked W Carolina's first loss this season but also highlighted the importance of defensive balance. By containing Samford's outside shooting and forcing them into difficult shots, W Carolina was able to stay in the game despite being outrebounded.
The win propels Samford forward in conference play, while W Carolina will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
- Game Stats:
- Samford: Field Goals (26/58), 3PT FG (11/25), Free Throws (19/21)
- W Carolina: Field Goals (25/61), 2PT FG (20/46)
- Game Flow:
- Halftime: away team led 34-38
- Final margin: 5 points
- Largest Leads: Samford 7, W Carolina 18