 SAMFORD 55, EASTERN MICHIGAN 51 The Eagles built a six-point lead, 49-43, with 3:23 left, but the Green and White would score just two points the rest of the way.
EMU senior forward Brandon Bowdry led the Eagles, now 2-10, with 19 points and six rebounds. Guard Darrell Lampley added 12.
Gregg Wooten paced Samford, now 9-5, with 13, while teammates Josh Davis and Jeffrey Merritt added 11 each.
TURNOVERS COSTLY
Eastern shot 50 percent from the field, hitting 21-of-42 shots and 6-of-20 three pointers for 30 percent, but the Eagles had 21 turnovers in the game.
Samford made 16-of-39 field goals for 41 percent and hit 9-of-24 triples for 37.5 percent. EMU was 3-for-3 from the free throw line, while the Bulldogs were making 14-of-16.
EMU won the battle of the boards, 26-19.
The Eagles opened the game with a bang, jumping out to an 11-5 lead on two three pointers by Thompson with a three and a two from Lampley.
Samford came back to knot the score at 11-11 at the 14:02 mark on a three by Bermudez, but the Eagles continue their offensive surge, going up by nine, 27-18, with 4:23 left on a lefty hook shot by Jamell Harris.
The Eagles closed out the half on a dunk by Bowdry for a 29-21 advantage.
Bowdry and Thompson led all first-half scorers with nine points each, while Lampley added seven. Bermudez paced the Bulldogs with six.
Bowdry opened the second half with two free throws to boost the lead to 10, 31-21, but the Bulldogs then went long distance, hitting three treys during a 14-4 stretch to tie the game at 35-35, with 14:04 left.
Bowdry hit two driving layups to put the Eagles up by four, 39-35, with 12:02 showing on the clock.
Samford would pull within one, 39-38, with 11:47 left, but once again the Eagles met the challenge, raising their lead to six, 49-43, with 3:57 remaining.
A series of missed shots and turnovers allowed the home team to fight its way back into the game, forcing a 49-49 tie with 1:37 left.
HOSTS TAKE THE LEAD
Eastern's Bowdry was then called for an offensive foul and Jeff Merritt put the Bulldogs on top, 51-49, with two free throws with 40.2 ticks left.
Samford would make it a four-point led with 10.6 seconds left when Josh Bedwell connected on two charity tosses, and the home team closed out the game for a 55-51 win.
Eastern will be back in action at home Jan. 4 against Ferris State.
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