Jadin Booth stole the show at the Pete Hanna Center, scoring 28 points to propel Samford to a 75-64 win over Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Bulldogs' victory was fueled by Booth's impressive performance, which saw him take control of the game from the opening tip. Chattanooga's Jordan Frison tried to keep pace, scoring 11 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Booth's dominance.
The game got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. At halftime, the score was knotted at 32-32, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. However, in the second half, Samford began to pull away, thanks in large part to Booth's scoring prowess. The Bulldogs outscored Chattanooga 43-32 in the final 20 minutes, with Booth scoring 15 of his 28 points during that stretch.
Dylan Faulkner also had a strong game for Samford, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. His presence in the paint was a key factor in the Bulldogs' victory, as he helped to control the boards and limit Chattanooga's second-chance opportunities. Cade Norris chipped in with 8 points and 6 rebounds, providing a spark off the bench for Samford.
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Chattanooga, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency on offense. Frison's 11 points led the way, but the Mocs' offense was unable to sustain any momentum. Brennan Watkins and Jikari Johnson each scored 10 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bulldogs' balanced attack.
The win was predicted by CHD Scout, which had Samford winning by 4.2 points. While the actual margin of victory was 11 points, the prediction was correct in terms of the winner. The Bulldogs' victory was a reflection of their strength and depth, as they were able to overcome a tough Chattanooga team.
The victory has real consequences for Samford's tournament resume. As a Q4 win, it won't do much to boost the Bulldogs' net ranking, which currently sits at 270. However, it does help to pad their win total and provides a much-needed confidence boost heading into the stretch run of the season. For Chattanooga, the loss is a Q4 defeat, which won't hurt their net ranking of 280 too much, but it does make their path to a potential tournament bid more difficult. As the season wears on, both teams want to build on this performance and make a push for postseason play.