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GAME NOTES: The Samford Bulldogs will be looking to improve their seeding for the Southern Conference tournament when they close the regular season by taking on the host Appalachian State Mountaineers today.

Samford was a 61-44 loser at Western Carolina in its last start on Thursday night. The Bulldogs have dropped three of their last four games and now stand at 11-18 overall. At 5-12 in the SoCon's North Division, Samford is in a three-way tie for fourth place. The Bulldogs could get the third seed out of the division however, if they win this game, depending on the results of today's other games. Samford is just 4-9 on the road this season.

Appalachian State was an 80-74 homecourt winner over Chattanooga on Thursday. The win assured the Mountaineers of the Northern Division title and the top seed out of the division in the conference tournament. It was their third straight win and seventh in their last eight games. Appalachian State is 19-11 overall and 12-5 in conference play. The Mountaineers are 12-3 at home this season.

The Mountaineers were 68-55 winners in Birmingham on January 28th. The teams have played just three times as they never met until Samford joined the Southern Conference last season. Appalachian State has won all three previous encounters.

Josh Davis scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs on Thursday night. Trey Montgomery added 10 points and five assists. Samford rallied to tie the game at 26 at halftime before Western Carolina took control in the second half. Davis leads the team in scoring at 12.9 ppg. He's shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 76.8 percent from the free-throw line. Montgomery, who leas the Bulldogs in minutes played, is next in scoring at 11.3 ppg. He's shooting 48.0 percent from the floor, and leading the team in assists at 3.0 apg. Jeffrey Merritt is the leading rebounder on the ballclub at just 4.4 rpg. Samford is not a high-scoring team, averaging just 57.9 ppg. The Bulldogs are however shooting a serviceable 45.6 percent from the floor. They take good care of the basketball, averaging just 12.9 turnovers per contest. Defensively, Samford allows 60.1 ppg.

Donald Sims scored 22 points to lead Appalachian State to the win on Thursday. Kellen Brand finished with 18 points for the Mountaineers. Jeremi Booth added 12 points and Josh Hunter finished with 11. Appalachian State led 35-29 at halftime after shooting 15-of-29 from the floor in the first half. The Mountaineers were 8-of-15 from long range after halftime. Sims is the top scorer in the conference at 20.2 ppg, shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and an incredible 94.9 percent from the line to rank number one in the country in that category at the start of the week. Brand is also in double figures at 10.6 ppg, while shooting 43.2 percent from the floor. Isaac Butts is third in the conference in rebounding at 8.2 boards per contest. The Mountaineers are shooting an even 48.0 percent from the floor while averaging 75.2 ppg.

The Mountaineers have the edge in athleticism and should continue their domination of the series with a big win here.