BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Samford started the game 8-for-8 from behind the 3-point line and didn't let up as the Alabama A&M University men's basketball team scored its most points of the season and had three players post double figures in a 118-91 loss on Monday night at the Pete Hanna Center.
Alabama A&M (1-8) shot 63 percent (17-of-27) in the opening half, but couldn't slow down Samford, which went 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) from behind the arc in building a 64-45 halftime lead. AAMU closed the gap to 12 points early in the second half but suffered a five-minute scoreless stretch, which allowed Samford to pull away.
The two teams combined for 53 total fouls and 55-of-72 at the free-throw line. Samford finished the game going 18-of-30 from behind the 3-point line and was just five off the school record. Alabama A&M recorded 91 points, the most it has scored this season in a game.
Dailin Smith scored 10 of his team-high 18 points in the first half and finished with a team-high five steals, four rebounds, one block and one assist. Jaylan Randall came off the bench to pour in 16 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, with a team-high six boards, two steals and one assist, while
AC Bryant tallied 12 points, five boards and three steals.
A.J. McCray-Staton led Samford with 18 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists and one blocked shot. Jermaine Marshall registered 16 points, including going 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line, along with five boards, three steals and two assists. Dallas Graziani and Josh Holloway each added 11 points, while Chandler Leopard tossed in 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With the game tied at 6 early on, Samford used an 8-0 run to grab a 14-6 advantage after a triple by Marshall with 17:27 remaining in the first half.
Samford continued its red-hot shooting and stretched the margin to 25-13 after a 3-pointer by Graziani with just under 14 minutes to play.
Alabama A&M went nearly three minutes without a bucket as Samford extended the lead to 33-13 after a Josh Holloway fastbreak layup with exactly 12 minutes remaining.
AAMU took advantage of Samford's struggles from the floor for more than two minutes, trimming the deficit to 39-24 after free throws by Randall with 8:11 left.
However, Samford answered with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes as Marshall completed a three-point play as SU pushed the margin to 48-26 with 6:28 remaining.
The final two minutes of the first half turned into a free-throw contest as Samford went into the break leading, 64-45.
AAMU opened the second half strong, using a 9-2 run to close the deficit to 66-54 after a
Caleb Blackwell fastbreak bucket with 17:42 remaining.
However, Alabama A&M went cold from the floor and Samford used a 25-9 run over the next eight minutes to extend the advantage to 91-63 with exactly nine minutes to play.
AAMU could not overcome the huge deficit as Samford picked up its eighth straight win.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 50.8 percent (31-of-61) from the field and 69.2 percent (27-of-39) from the free-throw line
- AAMU pulled down 34 rebounds, with 22 coming off the defensive glass
- Dailin Smith registered 18 points, five steals, four rebounds, one assist and one block
- Jayland Randall added 16 points, six boards, two steals and one assist
- AC Bryant tallied 12 points, five boards and three steals
- Alabama A&M finished 50 points in the paint, 42 bench points, 31 points off 26 Samford turnovers, 19 fastbreak points and 15 second-chance points
- Samford went 36-of-66 shooting (54.5 percent) from the floor and 28-of-33 (84.8 percent) from the charity stripe
- SU pulled down 34 rebounds, including 11 off the offensive glass
- A.J. McCray-Staton poured in 18 points, three steals, three assists and one blocked shot
- Jermaine Marshall registered 16 points, with five boards, three steals and two assists
- Dallas Graziani and Josh Holloway each added 11 points
- Chandler Leopard tossed in 10 points.
- Samford finished with 61 bench points, 40 points off 28 AAMU turnovers, 36 points in the paint, 19 fastbreak points and nine second-chance points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns home for back-to-back contests, starting on Wednesday as UAB will be visiting Huntsville for just the second time. Tip-off against the Blazers is set for 7 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and is streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
