Records Set as Samford Downs VMI
Well they did it again, Samford blew out VMI, 134-96, to win their 15th consecutive game and secured multiple school records in the process. This Samford basketball team now holds a school record for consecutive wins with 15 besting the 1960-1961 team. Bucky Ball continues to set milestones in what is already an historic season.
If you love points, then my goodness did you enjoy today. Samford finished with 133 points which is a school record in a game. The Bulldogs had 72 first-half points which is the most by any Division-I team in the first half of a conference game in 25 years, per ESPN Stats & Info. That is insane.
Samford had eight different players score in double figures with Achor Achor and Riley Allenspach leading with 18 points. Achor only played 13 minutes and Allenspach played 14 minutes. AJ Staton-McCray bounced back tonight with 15 points of his own.
It has been a different player every night and that is this next man up mentality that has propelled Samford to this point. Samford Scoop asked Bucky McMillan after the game about that mentality and how important that is in a team.
“It is always important in college basketball, particularly in the way we play. We obviously play up and down so we need depth. So many of these guys that may not have played a ton of minutes last year, they still got minutes. It is not like we had a rotation of six and seven, we played 10,11, 12 last year. So these guys that came in here like Achor or Jaden, it was not their first rodeo.”
Riley Allenspach, a former four-star recruit, continues to step up when Achor goes to the bench. Allenspach had 15 points against Belmont which were key. Samford Scoop asked Allenspach about how he plays with confidence in those moments.
“Just honestly, having to battle him (Achor) and Zach (Loveday) everyday has really given me the confidence. I have been in the gym on my own a little bit and with Coach Cole (Samford asst. Mitch Cole). It is just, over time I have gotten more confident in my game.”
On the defensive end, yes giving up 96 points is not ideal and is not sustainable. However, Samford forced 27 turnovers with 19 steals. It almost took two minutes of game time for VMI to cross half court. VMI used three timeouts in the first part of the first half. Just so many possessions for both teams to score and it definitely showed. Per KenPom, there were 98 possessions in the game tonight.
Tonight was very fun, but Tuesday night is when things get real. Western Carolina beat Mercer by 12 which sets up an epic showdown. Both squads are 15-2 and 4-0 in Southern Conference play. Tuesday night is also on national television on CBS Sports Network. Western Carolina, the preseason favorite in the SoCon, is led by superstar Vonterious Woolbright.
Woolbright averages 21.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Samford will have their hands full but the anticipation for Tuesday night is palpable. It will be a scene in Cullowhee, definitely cannot wait.
