FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Samford Bulldogs battled to the final minutes but ultimately fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks 79-75 on Friday night in a tightly contested road matchup. Despite a slow start, Samford rallied to make it a single-possession game late, showcasing their offensive firepower and resilience.
The Bulldogs trailed 45-35 at halftime after Arkansas shot 51% from the field in the first half while Samford managed just 37%. Samford opened the second half with an 11-3 run, trimming the Arkansas lead to two points.The game continued as a back-and-forth affair, with Arkansas leading by as many as 15 with seven minutes remaining. Samford responded, narrowing the gap to single digits before time expired.
Jadin Booth, entering the game as the nation’s leading scorer, struggled from the floor, finishing 3-of-15 despite scoring nine points in the second half. Keaton Norris, Dylan faulkner, and Booth each contributed five points in the first half. In the second half, the Norris brothers combined for 14 points, with Faulkner adding eight.
Cade Norris and A.J. Wilburn led Samford in scoring with career-highs of 15 points apiece. Jaxon Pollard, Cade Norris, and Dylan Faulkner each grabbed six rebounds to lead the Bulldogs on the boards, tying Arkansas 38-37 despite a size disadvantage.
Samford connected on 10 three-pointers, continuing a streak of double-digit threes in every game this season, tho at a season-low 34.5% clip (10-for-29). Arkansas capitalized on free throws, going plus-eight from the line, and won the fast-break battle 22-9.
The Bulldogs (currently unranked) will conclude their road trip on Sunday afternoon against Central Arkansas, who enter the game with a 1-2 record. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
