A once-comfortable lead dwindled in the final minute, but Samford finally sealed the game at the free throw line in a 76-70 Southern Conference victory over The Citadel on Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna.
Samford led, 63-48, with four minutes remaining, 66-53 with 1:55 left and 72-64 with 26 seconds remaining. A layup and four free throws over the next 19 seconds cut the deficit to 72-70. Samford's Logan Dye made two free throws with six seconds left, got a quick steal and added two more free throws to ice the victory.
"Good win," said Samford head coach Bucky McMillan. "We probably got a sour taste in our mouth because we didn't finish it. We turned the ball over and let the shooters get loose. But, overall, if you kind of look at the play, I'd say our defense was really good in the game, for the most part."
With the win, Samford (18-9 overall, 12-2 SoCon) maintains a share of first place with Furman. UNC Greensboro can make it a three-way tie once again on Sunday with a win over visiting Wofford. Samford and UNC Greensboro play next Wednesday at the Pete Hanna Center.
On Saturday, it was Jermaine Marshall leading the way for Samford. Marshall had 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. He was 7 of 10 from the field overall, 2 of 3 on 3-pointers and 7 of 10 from the free-throw line.
Dye only had three field goals but finished with 16 points after going 10 of 13 at the line. Ques Glover had 16 points, two assists and two rebounds. Samford was 20 of 29 from the free throw line, and The Citadel was 9 of 11.
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