Doubt at Your Own Peril, Samford Wins 16th Straight
Well. Well. Well. “They have not played a tough schedule.” “They have not played many road games, just wait until Samford plays a real team.” Well what are they going to say now?
In a thrilling game, Samford goes on the road to Cullowhee and takes down the Catamounts, 75-71. This win breaks Western Carolina’s winning streak at 9, and extends Samford’s to 16. In a game where Samford led most of the way, Achor Achor is the biggest story of the night.
Achor was unstoppable throughout the night as Western Carolina had zero answers for him. Achor finished with a career-high 35 points along with 10 rebounds. He had Samford’s first eight points and was deadly from three-point range, going five-of-nine from there. The Catamounts just kept leaving him open and Achor answered.
We have talked at length on the podcast about the growth of his game from last season. The sky's the absolute limit for the 6’9” big man as he continues to lead Samford in Jermaine Marshall’s absence. We need to start a Achor Achor for Southern Conference Player of the Year campaign at this rate. Achors aweigh!
Not going unnoticed is the play of point guard Rylan Jones. Jones, the Utah State transfer, is the perfect point guard for this offense. The two-man game of Jones and Achor was deadly tonight as Samford went to it on many possessions. Jones finished with 18 points along with six assists. He also made key free throws late to push the Samford lead back up to three with eight seconds left.
Rylan Jones from three, image courtesy of Samford Athletics
Coming into the game, Jones was sixth in the entire country in assist/turnover ratio and did not have one turnover tonight.
Samford led for 38 minutes of game time tonight with a biggest lead of 11. Every time Western Carolina made a bucket, it seemed like Samford was always there to respond with a score of their own. Samford Head Coach Bucky McMillan did a great job of switching between zone and man defenses, sometimes even in the same possession. This got the Catamounts out of their rhythm as they had to figure it out on every possession.
This game in the second half at least, was played at Western’s pace. They were able to slow the game down and force Samford to play offensively in the half court. Samford came into tonight playing as the nation’s third fastest team in adjusted tempo per KenPom. The Bulldogs found a way to counter that with the previously mentioned two-man game on the offensive end.
Samford found different ways to respond in the second half as it seemed that Western did not miss a shot in the last few minutes of the game. Honestly, Samford loses this kind of game last year. However this year, with an experienced true point guard in Rylan Jones, Samford was able to get into their offense and make things happen. This team is better equipped to handle road atmospheres and games like this.
Tonight it felt like Samford played well defensively on Vonterious Woolbright and he still finished with 23 points with 10 rebounds. It was Russell Jones, Jr. who had a great game tonight with 22 points. Again, Samford responded with scores of their own time and time again. The Catamounts just had no answer for Achor Achor on the defensive end.
Samford now holds the nation’s longest active winning streak at 16 at the moment. At the time of writing, Utah State has not tipped off tonight on the road at New Mexico.
What a night for this Samford basketball team in which they were the underdog according to our friends in Las Vegas. Tonight is just another chapter in this record-breaking season that is only through five games of SoCon play. There is still so much more basketball to play.
Next time these two teams play, it will be on Valentine’s Day. The game will be live on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Go out to dinner with your significant other another night that week and make it a date to the Pete Hanna Center.
What a night for these players and this fan base as Samford gets their 16th straight win. It’s a movement.
Samford is back home on Saturday against Mercer at 5:00pm. I’ll be there. You should be there too.
