Box Score Game Book (pdf)
Game Highlights
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford men’s basketball team used a strong defensive performance to defeat Samford 81-43 at Benjamin Johnson Arena. The Terriers limited the Bulldogs to only five field goals in the second half while never trailing in the contest.
Wofford is 10-9 on the season and 7-1 in the Southern Conference and Samford is 10-10 overall and 2-6 in SoCon play. Four Wofford players scored in double figures, led by Noah Dahlman with 24 points. Jamar Diggs scored 14, Kevin Giltner had 13 and Terry Martin added 12 points. Tim Johnson led the squad with 13 rebounds. The Bulldogs were led by Jeffrey Merritt with 15 points.
“There was a lot to be concerned with in playing Samford,” said Wofford head coach Mike Young. “I think Samford runs that offense better than almost anybody and they are well coached. We were a little too big and strong along the front line and were able to put the ball in the post. Noah seemed to score at will and Tim Johnson was really good today. Terry Martin had two early fouls, but he had a pretty good line. Now we have a day to get it dialed in and I expect us to come in here and play well on Monday against Furman. We are going to have to play a good basketball game.”
Both teams opened the game with three pointers, which was followed by a lay-up and free throw by Noah Dahlman for a 6-3 lead at 16:28. A three pointer by Kevin Giltner pushed the lead to four at 9-5 and the Terriers never looked back. The lead was 21-9 at the 8:53 mark, but back-to-back threes by the Bulldogs cut the advantage to 21-15. Jamar Diggs got the lead back to ten points at 27-17 with 4:59 remaining in the first half. At the break, the Terriers led 39-24.
In the second half, Wofford was able to use a 9-0 run that included five straight points by Terry Martin to take a 57-32 lead with 14:00 left in the half. Another run of seven straight points the concluded with a three by Jamar Diggs made it a 67-37 game with nine minutes remaining.
After going up 35 points with another 7-0 run, the Terriers cleared the bench with four minutes remaining in the game. Aerris Smith scored his first points of the season with 2:52 on the clock and Matt Steelman hit a three with 1:10 left in the game for the final points in the 81-43 win. It was the second straight 30+ point win for the Terriers after a 32 points win on Thursday night against Chattanooga.
Wofford shot 50.8% from the floor and was 42.1% from three. From the free throw line, the Terriers were 52.4%. Samford was 29.8% overall and was 26.1% from behind the arc. They were 69.2% from the line. Wofford had a 48 to 21 advantage in rebounds and the Terriers forced 12 turnovers. The 43 points allowed and the 29.8% from the floor by Samford marked season-bests for the Wofford defense.
Wofford completes the three-game home stand against Furman on Monday night at 7:00 pm at Benjamin Johnson Arena.
