The ETSU Bucs were back in action on Saturday, Feb. 12, to take on the Samford Bulldogs.
The Bucs (13-13) hit the court for the first time since their thriller against Furman where the Bucs ended a five-game losing streak 75-71.
Samford (15-9) was also fresh off a 65-60 victory over the Wofford Terriers and looked to keep their winning ways.
They did.
According to ESPN, the Bucs had a 72 percent chance of winning the game and following the high energy play from their last win and it was somewhat expected to see the Bucs start to catch fire as the season winds down.
A high-scoring first half saw both teams shoot the ball efficiently, but the lead that Samford entered the half with was the same lead that would give them the win.
The Bulldogs were up by as much as 10 in the first half and the Bucs held a five-point lead late in the second half but a 9-1 run by the Bulldogs would be the nail in the coffin for a Buc’ team that continues to struggle offensively.
Led by Jordan King’s (Albany, N.Y.) 19 points, the Bucs shot 45 percent from the field but would go 7/22 from three and only boast a 32 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc. King was responsible for four of those makes from deep.
The Bucs were able to close the gap with under a minute to go when forward, Ty Brewer (Meridian, Miss.), made his way to the foul line and sank both attempts to cut the Bulldogs lead down 75-73 but the Bucs were unable to stop a quick score that would seal the game for the Bulldogs and make the final score 77-73.
The Bucs now drop to a (13-14) overall record on the season and (5-9) in SoCon play as they will hit the road for a two-game stretch to face the Mercer Bears on Feb. 16 and The Citadel Bulldogs on Feb. 19.
