Men @ Samford

The Skyhawks men fell to conference opponent Samford on Thursday at Seibert Hall in Birmingham, Alabama.

With the win, Samford improves to 9-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play and an overall record of 13-5. The Skyhawks fell to 4-8 in the OVC and 7-11 overall.

UTM trailed Samford early but cut the deficit to one point after a lay-up by Junior Forward Cleve Woodfork at the 12:27 mark in the first half. Samford responded with a 23-9 run to close out the first half before the Skyhawks’ Jared Newson found McClenon Tolliver open for his only 3-pointer of the night, cutting Samford’s lead to 33-21 at the half.

Samford forward Robert Merrit was almost unstoppable as he scored 18 of his game high 25 points in the first half.

UTM began the second half trading baskets and playing even with Samford through the 14:50 mark. Less than three minutes later the Skyhawks found themselves down as many as 18 points. Senior guard Jeremy Kelly, who had 13 of his team high 16 points in the second half, sparked a run with a 3-point basket with 6:29 left to play. The Skyhawks used a 15-4 run late in the second half and capped it off with a Will Lewis lay-up at the 2:37 mark to tie the game at 59. Samford responded with an 8-1 run of its own to finish the game with a 67-60 victory over UTM.

Jared Newson chipped in with 15 points and three steals, while Will Lewis added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Women @ Samford

Second-year head coach Tara Tansil might have experienced déjà vu Thursday afternoon here at Siebert Hall as her Skyhawk women fell victim to Samford’s three-point shooters.

Samford (14-4/9-2 OVC) hit 6-of-13 treys in the game and handed the Skyhawk women a 59-50 Ohio Valley Conference setback, the Skyhawks fifth consecutive loss.

Samford’s Chelsee Insell did most of the long-range damage. She hit two of her four treys in the first half and led Samford with 14 points. Samford, much like it did earlier this month in Martin, built a large first-half lead, 33-20.

And in the second half, the Skyhawks rallied. The Skyhawks cut the Samford lead to six points, 44-38, when junior Andreika Jackson muscled her way through the lane for a layup with 7:02 to play in the game. Sophomore Crystal Fuller was credited with the assist. Jackson and Fuller led the Skyhawks with 15 points each.

Samford answered back this time. With 5:28 left in the game, Insell drained a three-pointer from near-mid court at the end of the 30-second shot clock. The long trey gave Samford a 50-40 advantage.

Samford shot 46 percent from three-point range and 44 percent from the field. The Skyhawks shot 44 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range.

Earlier this month Samford built a big first-half lead against the Skyhawks, but the Skyhawks stormed back for a 58-50 win.