- Matchup: VMI Keydets vs Samford Bulldogs
- Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Venue: Pete Hanna Center, Homewood, AL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Samford Bulldogs (16-13) aim to secure a victory against the VMI Keydets (6-23) at the Pete Hanna Center this Thursday.
In their previous outing, the VMI Keydets were defeated by Western Carolina with a score of 81-62. During the match, VMI committed 13 fouls, while their opponents had 16. The Keydets made 10 of their 30 three-point attempts. Western Carolina excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 88.2% by converting 15 of 17 attempts. The team also secured 38 rebounds (8 offensive, 30 defensive) but did not register any blocks. Western Carolina recorded 20 assists and made 3 steals throughout the game. VMI’s defense allowed a 45.2% shooting percentage from the floor, as their opponents hit 28 of 62 shots. They tallied 13 assists and forced 2 turnovers while collecting 25 rebounds, including 4 offensive. From the line, VMI made 7 of 11 shots, achieving a 63.6% success rate from free throws. Overall, the Keydets finished with a 39.3% shooting percentage (22 of 56) and converted 11 of their 29 shots from beyond the arc.
Player Walker Andrews contributed significantly, scoring 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting while playing for 28 minutes, also grabbing 1 rebound. He ended the game with an impressive 57.1% field goal percentage but did not record any assists.
The VMI Keydets enter this game with a record of 6-23 for the season. They average 72.2 points per game, which ranks them 272nd in Division 1. The team shoots 40.1% from the field and 33.1% from three-point range (313 of 945), alongside a free throw percentage of 72.9%. VMI collects an average of 33.3 rebounds per game and has a total of 369 assists this season, ranking 241st in collegiate basketball productivity. They average 10.3 turnovers and commit 17.1 fouls each game.
On the defensive side, the Keydets force an average of 11.5 turnovers per game while committing 15.9 fouls. They rank 362nd in allowing assists to opponents, with a total of 513 this season. Opponents shoot 46.0% against them (804 of 1,747) and the Keydets allow an average of 40.8 rebounds per game. Their 3-point defense permits 35.1% shooting, and they rank 322nd in points allowed per game, giving up an average of 79.7.
In their last match, the Samford Bulldogs were narrowly defeated by Mercer with a score of 89-86. Samford allowed Mercer to grab 31 rebounds (5 offensive). The Bulldogs shot 41.2% from three-point range, hitting 7 of 17 attempts, and were successful on 18 of 25 free throw attempts (72.0%). Unfortunately, they permitted Mercer to achieve a stellar 64.0% shooting by allowing 32 of 50 shots made. Samford concluded the game with 30 of 64 from the floor, translating to a shooting percentage of 46.9%, and made 6 of 16 three-point shots (37.5%). With 20 successful free throws, they reached an 87.0% success rate. Mercer committed 19 fouls, providing Samford with 23 free throw attempts. The Bulldogs lost possession 6 times but managed to secure 7 steals and grabbed 18 defensive rebounds alongside 8 offensive rebounds for a total of 26.
Dylan Faulkner emerged as a key player for the Bulldogs, scoring 27 points by shooting 12 of 16 (75.0%) and registering 8 rebounds and 3 assists while playing 28 minutes.
The Samford Bulldogs hold a record of 16-13 this season. They commit an average of 16.1 fouls per game and shoot 68.6% from the free throw line. Their assist rate stands at 14.7 per game (131st in the nation), while they average 9.0 turnovers. Samford has accumulated a total of 2,277 points this year, averaging 78.5 points per game, while recording 36.4 rebounds per game. Their shooting percentage from the field is 44.9%, ranking 198th nationally.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are ranked 227th in points allowed per game with an average of 75.3. They force 9.3 turnovers per game and allow opponents to shoot 44.5% from the floor (205th in college). Samford’s defense permits a 35.4% success rate from three-point territory (220 of 622), while opponents convert 74.3% of their free throw attempts. They yield an average of 12.5 assists and 35.7 rebounds per game, ranked 108th and 257th in their respective categories.
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Back Samford
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