MERCER

SAMFORD

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Jones scores 15 in Samford's 70-57 win against Mercer in Southern Conference Tournament

AP
Mar 09, 2024

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Rylan Jones and Garrett Hicks scored 15 points each in top-seeded Samford's 70-57 victory over eighth-seeded Mercer on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Tournament.

Jones went 6 of 10 from the field (3 for 5 from 3-point range) for the Bulldogs (27-5). Hicks shot 6 of 10 (3 for 5 from 3-point range). Achor Achor had 12 points and shot 4 of 11 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line.

The Bears (16-17) were led in scoring by David Thomas, who finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Mercer also got 13 points from Jake Davis. Jalyn McCreary finished with 11 points and two blocks.

Samford took the lead with 11:18 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 37-28 at halftime, with Jones racking up 10 points. Achor scoring a team-high seven points after intermission.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
MER
Bears
28
SAM
Bulldogs
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Bears gains possession)
19:41	+2	Jake Davis makes two point jump shot	2-0
19:21	+3	Jaden Campbell makes three point jump shot (Rylan Jones assists)	2-3
18:48	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	4-3
18:32		Alex Holt personal foul
18:29	+2	Rylan Jones makes two point layup (Dallas Graziani assists)	4-5
18:08		Caleb Hunter misses three point jump shot
18:06		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
17:49		Alex Holt blocks Achor Achor's two point layup
17:47		Alex Holt defensive rebound
17:43		Jaden Campbell shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
17:43	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-5
17:43	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-5
17:30		Achor Achor misses two point layup
17:28		Achor Achor offensive rebound
17:28	+2	Achor Achor makes two point layup	6-7
17:04		Achor Achor blocks Alex Holt's two point layup
17:02		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
16:46	+2	Rylan Jones makes two point jump shot	6-9
16:28	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	8-9
16:05		Achor Achor misses three point jump shot
16:03		Jake Davis defensive rebound
15:58		Jalyn McCreary misses two point layup
15:56		Jalyn McCreary offensive rebound
15:55	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup	10-9
15:46	+3	Jermaine Marshall makes three point jump shot (Dallas Graziani assists)	10-12
15:21		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
15:19		Dallas Graziani defensive rebound
15:14		Jaden Campbell misses three point jump shot
15:12		David Thomas defensive rebound
14:54		Achor Achor shooting foul (Jake Davis draws the foul)
14:54		TV timeout
14:54	+1	Jake Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	11-12
14:54	+1	Jake Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-12
14:34		Rylan Jones turnover (bad pass) (Robby Carmody steals)
14:14		Jalen Cobb misses three point jump shot
14:12		Jah Quinones offensive rebound
14:10	+2	Jah Quinones makes two point layup	14-12
13:44		A.J. Staton-McCray misses two point jump shot
13:42		Riley Allenspach offensive rebound
13:42		Alex Holt blocks Riley Allenspach's two point layup
13:40		Robby Carmody defensive rebound
13:39	+2	Robby Carmody makes two point layup	16-12
13:39		Rylan Jones shooting foul (Robby Carmody draws the foul)
13:39	+1	Robby Carmody makes regular free throw 1 of 1	17-12
13:24		Jalen Cobb blocks Riley Allenspach's two point layup
13:22		Bulldogs offensive rebound
13:15		Garrett Hicks turnover (bad pass) (Jah Quinones steals)
13:05		Robby Carmody misses two point layup
13:03		Riley Allenspach defensive rebound
12:56	+3	Garrett Hicks makes three point jump shot (A.J. Staton-McCray assists)	17-15
12:40		Garrett Hicks personal foul
12:20		Robby Carmody turnover (bad pass) (Jermaine Marshall steals)
12:20		Jalyn McCreary personal foul
11:59	+3	Garrett Hicks makes three point jump shot (A.J. Staton-McCray assists)	17-18
11:40		A.J. Staton-McCray shooting foul (TJ Grant draws the foul)
11:40		TV timeout
11:40	+1	TJ Grant makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-18
11:40		TJ Grant misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:18	+2	Jermaine Marshall makes two point layup (Nathan Johnson assists)	18-20
11:03		Bears turnover (10-second violation)
10:57		Josh Holloway turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Cobb steals)
10:43		David Thomas turnover (lost ball) (Jermaine Marshall steals)
10:40	+2	Garrett Hicks makes two point dunk	18-22
10:05		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
10:03		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
9:58		Jalyn McCreary personal foul
9:46		Alex Holt blocks Achor Achor's two point hook shot
9:44		David Thomas defensive rebound
9:23		David Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Garrett Hicks steals)
9:19	+2	Garrett Hicks makes two point layup	18-24
8:48	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	20-24
8:19	+3	Rylan Jones makes three point jump shot	20-27
8:08		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
8:06		Rylan Jones defensive rebound
7:53		Garrett Hicks misses three point jump shot
7:51		David Thomas defensive rebound
7:45	+2	Jah Quinones makes two point jump shot	22-27
7:17	+3	Achor Achor makes three point jump shot (Garrett Hicks assists)	22-30
7:05		TV timeout
7:04		Robby Carmody turnover (bad pass) (Jermaine Marshall steals)
7:03		Jermaine Marshall turnover (out of bounds)
6:34		Jake Davis misses two point jump shot
6:32		A.J. Staton-McCray defensive rebound
6:21		A.J. Staton-McCray misses two point layup
6:19		Robby Carmody defensive rebound
6:14		Robby Carmody turnover (lost ball) (Dallas Graziani steals)
5:56		Jermaine Marshall misses three point jump shot
5:54		Robby Carmody defensive rebound
5:44	+3	Caleb Hunter makes three point jump shot (David Thomas assists)	25-30
5:32	+2	Dallas Graziani makes two point jump shot	25-32
5:19		Caleb Hunter misses three point jump shot
5:17		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
5:01		Riley Allenspach turnover (lost ball) (Alex Holt steals)
4:36		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
4:34		Riley Allenspach defensive rebound
4:22		Riley Allenspach misses three point jump shot
4:20		Lukas Walls offensive rebound
4:20		Robby Carmody blocks Lukas Walls's two point layup
4:20		Riley Allenspach offensive rebound
4:20		Jake Davis shooting foul (Riley Allenspach draws the foul)
4:20	+1	Riley Allenspach makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-33
4:20	+1	Riley Allenspach makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-34
4:01	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)	28-34
3:41		Nathan Johnson misses three point jump shot
3:39		Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
3:29		Achor Achor blocks Jalyn McCreary's two point layup
3:27		Bears offensive rebound
3:27		TV timeout
3:18		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
3:16		Nathan Johnson defensive rebound
2:48		Josh Holloway misses three point jump shot
2:46		Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
2:22		Josh Holloway personal foul
2:04		Jake Davis turnover (out of bounds)
1:52		Garrett Hicks misses two point layup
1:50		Bears defensive rebound
1:20		Jah Quinones misses two point layup
1:18		Nathan Johnson defensive rebound
1:05	+3	Rylan Jones makes three point jump shot	28-37
0:52		Bears 30 second timeout
0:36		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
0:34		Achor Achor defensive rebound
0:07		Achor Achor misses two point layup
0:05		Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MER
Bears
29
SAM
Bulldogs
33

Time		Play	Score
19:48	+2	Achor Achor makes two point dunk (Rylan Jones assists)	28-39
19:20		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
19:18		Jaden Campbell defensive rebound
19:12		Dallas Graziani turnover (bad pass) (Alex Holt steals)
19:09		Jaden Campbell shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
19:09	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-39
19:09		Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:09		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
18:57		Jaden Campbell misses three point jump shot
18:55		Jake Davis defensive rebound
18:31		Caleb Hunter misses two point layup
18:29		David Thomas offensive rebound
18:24		David Thomas misses three point jump shot
18:22		Jaden Campbell defensive rebound
18:09		Jalyn McCreary blocks Rylan Jones's two point layup
18:07		Bulldogs offensive rebound
17:57		Jermaine Marshall misses two point jump shot
17:55		Jake Davis defensive rebound
17:55		Jermaine Marshall personal foul
17:55		Official timeout
17:51		Caleb Hunter misses three point jump shot
17:49		Dallas Graziani defensive rebound
17:32	+2	Jaden Campbell makes two point layup	29-41
17:06		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
17:04		Jake Davis offensive rebound
17:01		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
17:01		Alex Holt offensive rebound
17:01		Jalyn McCreary misses two point layup
17:01		Rylan Jones defensive rebound
17:01		Achor Achor personal foul
16:56		Caleb Hunter misses two point layup
16:54		Achor Achor defensive rebound
16:45	+3	Rylan Jones makes three point jump shot	29-44
16:36		Alex Holt offensive foul
16:12		Achor Achor misses two point layup
16:10		Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
16:04	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (Jalyn McCreary assists)	32-44
15:50		Jaden Campbell misses three point jump shot
15:47		Bulldogs offensive rebound
15:47		TV timeout
15:39		Rylan Jones misses three point jump shot
15:37		Garrett Hicks offensive rebound
15:22	+2	Rylan Jones makes two point layup	32-46
14:55	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	34-46
14:37		Jalyn McCreary blocks Riley Allenspach's two point layup
14:35		Bulldogs offensive rebound
14:29		Garrett Hicks misses three point jump shot
14:27		Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
14:17		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
14:15		Rylan Jones defensive rebound
14:08		Jaden Campbell turnover (lost ball) (David Thomas steals)
13:38	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	36-46
13:18		Rylan Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Cobb steals)
13:10	+2	David Thomas makes two point layup (Jah Quinones assists)	38-46
12:58	+2	Josh Holloway makes two point layup	38-48
12:34	+2	Jah Quinones makes two point layup	40-48
12:27	+2	Garrett Hicks makes two point jump shot	40-50
12:19		A.J. Staton-McCray personal foul
12:05		Achor Achor shooting foul (Robby Carmody draws the foul)
12:05	+1	Robby Carmody makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-50
12:05	+1	Robby Carmody makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-50
11:37	+3	Garrett Hicks makes three point jump shot (Jermaine Marshall assists)	42-53
11:19	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot	44-53
11:03		TV timeout
10:52	+2	Jermaine Marshall makes two point layup (Nathan Johnson assists)	44-55
10:23	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)	47-55
10:21		Official timeout
10:02	+2	A.J. Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Achor Achor assists)	47-57
9:58		Jake Davis turnover (bad pass)
9:52		David Thomas shooting foul (Achor Achor draws the foul)
9:52	+1	Achor Achor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-58
9:52	+1	Achor Achor makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-59
9:38		Jalyn McCreary misses two point layup
9:36		Nathan Johnson defensive rebound
9:23		Garrett Hicks misses two point layup
9:21		Achor Achor offensive rebound
9:21		Jake Davis shooting foul (Achor Achor draws the foul)
9:21	+1	Achor Achor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-60
9:21		Achor Achor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:21		David Thomas defensive rebound
9:01	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (David Thomas assists)	49-60
8:38		Josh Holloway turnover (lost ball)
8:15		Caleb Hunter misses two point layup
8:13		Josh Holloway defensive rebound
8:08		Josh Holloway misses two point jump shot
8:06		Jermaine Marshall offensive rebound
8:06		Jalyn McCreary personal foul
7:57	+3	Jermaine Marshall makes three point jump shot (Garrett Hicks assists)	49-63
7:51		Garrett Hicks personal foul
7:51		TV timeout
7:46		Achor Achor shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
7:46		Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:46		Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:46		Jaden Campbell defensive rebound
7:25		Rylan Jones misses three point jump shot
7:23		David Thomas defensive rebound
7:14		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
7:12		Rylan Jones defensive rebound
7:06		Rylan Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jalyn McCreary steals)
6:43		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
6:41		Nathan Johnson defensive rebound
6:11		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
5:57		Nathan Johnson personal foul
5:57		Robby Carmody misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:57		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
5:38		Jermaine Marshall misses three point jump shot
5:36		Jalen Cobb defensive rebound
5:17		Jah Quinones misses two point layup
5:15		Garrett Hicks defensive rebound
5:06		Jah Quinones blocks Achor Achor's two point layup
5:04		Bears defensive rebound
4:49	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	51-63
4:28	+2	Achor Achor makes two point layup (Jermaine Marshall assists)	51-65
4:28		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
4:28		TV timeout
4:10	+2	Robby Carmody makes two point jump shot	53-65
3:56	+2	Josh Holloway makes two point layup	53-67
3:56		Jake Davis shooting foul (Josh Holloway draws the foul)
3:56		TV timeout
3:56	+1	Josh Holloway makes regular free throw 1 of 1	53-68
3:31		David Thomas misses three point jump shot
3:29		Jalen Cobb offensive rebound
3:27		Jalen Cobb misses two point layup
3:25		Jermaine Marshall defensive rebound
3:02		Robby Carmody personal foul
2:39		Josh Holloway misses three point jump shot
2:37		Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
2:24		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
2:22		Jah Quinones offensive rebound
2:20		Jaden Campbell personal foul (Jah Quinones draws the foul)
2:20	+1	Jah Quinones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-68
2:20	+1	Jah Quinones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-68
2:20		Bears 60 second timeout
2:17		Jaden Campbell misses two point layup
2:15		Josh Holloway offensive rebound
2:13	+2	Josh Holloway makes two point dunk	55-70
1:53		Caleb Hunter misses three point jump shot
1:51		Jah Quinones offensive rebound
1:51		Jah Quinones turnover (lost ball)
1:21		Rylan Jones misses two point layup
1:19		TJ Grant defensive rebound
1:03		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
1:01		Jah Quinones offensive rebound
0:59		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
0:57		Jaden Campbell defensive rebound
0:28		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
0:09		Jah Quinones misses three point jump shot
0:07		Jalyn McCreary offensive rebound
0:07	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup	57-70
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup