Bulldog Showdown: Kicking Off Southern Conference Action Against The Citadel!

GAME NOTES — SAMFORD vs. The Citadel (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford men’s basketball team commences its Southern Conference journey tomorrow by hosting The Citadel on Dec. 1 at the Pete Hanna Center at 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs aim to defend their title as SoCon champions and earn another appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Samford concluded the non-conference segment with a 10-3 record while The Citadel holds a 5-6 record.

The Samford Bulldogs finished the non-conference phase with a 97-90 win at Alabama A&M on Dec. 21.  Southern Conference play gets underway where Samford maintained a 15-3 record last season. Facing The Citadel marks the 32nd encounter in school history, with Samford triumphing in 18 of the past matchups, securing victories in eight of the last ten.

The Bulldogs have been formidable at home, achieving 25 consecutive wins at the Pete Hanna Center. Four players on the roster are averaging double-digit points, spearheaded by Trey Fort with an impressive average of 14.7 points per game, recently achieving a career-high 27 points against Alabama A&M, nailing 7-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Ranked third nationally in offense, Samford averages 89 points per contest, along with 11.7 successful three-point attempts per game, placing them third in that category. On the defensive front, Samford induces 17.7 turnovers each game, which stands as the third highest in the country. Furthermore, the Bulldogs excel in ball distribution, averaging 18.7 assists per game, placing them 11th nationally.

Point guard Rylan Jones orchestrates the gameplay for the Bulldogs and is currently ranked in the top 15 nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.71. Collin Holloway is just 25 points shy of achieving the 1,000 career point milestone.

The Citadel comes into the matchup with a 5-6 season record. They are currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having been defeated by Vanderbilt 105-53 in their most recent game. The Citadel has not emerged victorious against Samford since the 2021-22 season. Head coach Ed Conroy is in his second term as head coach of the Bulldogs, marking his seventh overall season at The Citadel. The Bulldogs have been predicted to finish 9th out of 10 teams in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll. Brody Fox leads The Citadel, averaging 16.8 points per game and is the only player on the team averaging double figures.

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For the latest updates and details regarding Samford men’s basketball, check the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Supporters can also keep up with the Bulldogs through social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordMBB (Twitter), and @SamfordMBB (Instagram).