- Matchup: Samford Bulldogs vs VMI Keydets
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Venue: Cameron Hall, Lexington, VA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The VMI Keydets (5-8) are set to battle the Samford Bulldogs (7-6) at Cameron Hall this Thursday.
In their previous outing, the Samford Bulldogs secured a dominant victory against Reinhardt, finishing the game at 85-49. The Bulldogs committed 14 fouls, while Reinhardt recorded 13. From beyond the arc, Samford made 8 of their 22 attempts. Reinhardt managed a free throw percentage of 63.6%, converting 7 out of 11 shots. On the rebounding front, Reinhardt pulled down 30 boards (6 offensive, 24 defensive) but did not have any blocks. They also assisted 10 times and recorded 6 steals during the match. Defensively, Samford limited their opponents to just 26.6% shooting from the field, allowing only 17 baskets from 64 attempts. The Bulldogs posted 24 assists, forced 13 turnovers, and grabbed 7 steals. In total, they secured 49 rebounds, including 14 offensive ones. At the line, Samford converted 6 of 15 attempts for a 40.0% success rate and wrapped up the game with a 47.9% field goal percentage (34 of 71) alongside 11 of 38 from three-point range.
Judson Bjornstad was a key contributor, scoring 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting in 23 minutes on the court, while also collecting 6 rebounds and handing out 2 assists.
Currently, the Samford Bulldogs hold a 7-6 record for the season. They average 9.8 turnovers and 15.4 fouls per game. The team averages 38.4 rebounds per game and has recorded 184 assists this year, placing them 196th in Division 1 for passes made. Samford has a shooting percentage of 32.2% from three-point range (123 of 382) and shoots 66.1% from the free throw line. They score an average of 77.2 points per game, ranking 197th nationwide, with a field goal percentage of 42.4%.
On defense, the Bulldogs generate an average of 10.7 turnovers per game and commit 19.8 fouls. They allow opponents to hit 36.9% from three-point range and rank 243rd in Division 1 for points allowed per game at 75.8. The team’s field goal percentage allowed is 43.8% (358 of 817), while they average 38.9 rebounds per game, placing them 219th in college basketball for assists allowed with 174 surrendered this season.
In their most recent game, the VMI Keydets suffered a close defeat at the hands of Radford, falling 97-90. VMI allowed Radford to secure 31 total rebounds (11 offensive), while finishing with a 44.0% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 25 shots. At the free-throw line, they converted 32 out of 40 attempts (80.0%). Radford managed to shoot 27 of their 49 field goal attempts, resulting in a 55.1% shooting percentage. VMI ended the game with 27 baskets out of 56 attempts (48.2%) and drained 11 of their 24 three-point shots (45.8%). By drawing 21 fouls, Radford sent the Keydets to the line for a total of 28 attempts. The Keydets had 13 turnovers but managed to record 7 steals, collecting 21 defensive boards and 8 offensive boards for a combined total of 29 rebounds in the contest.
TJ Johnson emerged as a standout for the Keydets during this matchup, scoring 21 points with a shooting percentage of 45.5% (5 of 11) and grabbing 4 rebounds, all in 37 minutes of play.
Currently, the VMI Keydets hold a record of 5-8 for the season. Offensively, VMI is shooting 41.4%, which stands as 333rd in the nation. Overall, they have scored 1,015 points (averaging 78.1 points per game) and average 37.3 rebounds. The Keydets deliver 13.7 assists per game (243rd nationally) while turning the ball over 10.7 times per contest. They commit 17.3 fouls on average and shoot 72.9% from the charity stripe.
The VMI defense allows opponents to shoot 33.3% from three-point range (110 of 330) and 70.3% from the free-throw line. They concede 17.2 assists and 40.5 rebounds per game, ranking 346th and 354th in college basketball. Defensively, VMI is ranked 258th in points per game allowed at 76.2, while forcing an average of 12.9 turnovers and permitting teams to shoot 43.5% (187th in the nation).
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Recommended Bet: Take VMI
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