The Wofford Terriers delivered a resounding 80-28 victory over the Samford Bulldogs, with 15 points from Chace Watley and a stifling defensive effort that limited Samford to just 28 points on 25% shooting. Wofford's 52-point margin of victory was fueled by a 46-point second-half outburst, during which they shot 53% from the field and outrebounded Samford 23-12. The Terriers' dominant performance saw them assist on 18 of their 31 field goals, with Brendan Rigsbee and Nils Machowski contributing 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Wofford's 52-Point Margin of Victory Ties for Largest in Program History
The game was essentially decided by halftime, with Wofford holding a 34-14 lead after 20 minutes of play. Samford's Jadin Booth tried to keep his team afloat with 25 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bulldogs' 17 turnovers and 32% shooting from the field. Wofford's defense was particularly effective in the second half, holding Samford to just 14 points on 20% shooting. The Terriers' 80 points came on 31-61 shooting, including 8-20 from beyond the arc, with Chace Watley and Brendan Rigsbee combining for 29 points on 11-19 shooting. As the final buzzer sounded, Wofford had outrebounded Samford 43-31 and outassisted them 18-10, cementing their dominant 80-28 victory.
Chace Watley and Brendan Rigsbee led the charge for the Wofford Terriers, combining for 29 points on 11-19 shooting. Nils Machowski added 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Jadin Booth was the lone bright spot for the Samford Bulldogs with 25 points. Cade Norris and Dylan Faulkner chipped in with 17 and 15 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bulldogs' dismal shooting and turnover woes. Wofford's balanced attack saw four players score in double figures, with Machowski and Rigsbee contributing 9 and 6 rebounds, respectively. Samford's Booth was the only player to reach double figures for the Bulldogs, with his 25 points coming on 9-18 shooting.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Wofford Terriers outshot the Samford Bulldogs 51% to 25% from the field, including 40% to 20% from beyond the arc. Wofford also outrebounded Samford 43-31 and outassisted them 18-10, with a +15 turnover margin that proved decisive. The Terriers' 46-point second half was fueled by 53% shooting from the field, while Samford's 14-point half was marked by 20% shooting and 10 turnovers. Wofford's 80 points came on 31-61 shooting, with 18 assists on those 31 field goals. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, managed just 28 points on 25% shooting, with 10 turnovers and only 10 assists on their 20 field goals.
The CHD Scout prediction model was way off here, predicting a 78-76 Samford victory by a margin of 1.3 points. Instead, the Wofford Terriers dominated from start to finish, winning 80-28 and covering the spread by a whopping 52 points. The model clearly underestimated Wofford's defensive prowess, as well as Samford's propensity for turnovers and poor shooting. With this result, the model's accuracy takes a hit, and it will be interesting to see how it adjusts to this unexpected outcome. The 52-point margin of victory was a stark contrast to the predicted 1.3-point margin, highlighting the model's limitations in predicting blowout victories.
This victory was a Quadrant 3 win for the Wofford Terriers, who improved to 17-9 on the season and 215 in the NET rankings. For the Samford Bulldogs, this loss was a Quadrant 4 defeat, dropping them to 14-12 and 236 in the NET rankings. The 52-point margin of victory will likely have a significant impact on Wofford's tournament resume, particularly given the dominant nature of their performance. With several key games still on the horizon, the Terriers want to build on this momentum and solidify their position in the tournament picture. Samford, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus after this disappointing loss, with their tournament hopes hanging in the balance.
The Wofford Terriers want to build on this momentum when they face off against the Furman Paladins on February 15. The Samford Bulldogs, meanwhile, will try to bounce back when they host the Mercer Bears on February 13. With several key games still on the horizon, both teams want to make a statement and improve their tournament chances.