Samford Clinches Tournament Berth After Wild Southern Conference Tournament

Photo Credit: Kathy Kmonicek, Associated Press

In a fiercely competitive tournament that included a blown 20 point lead by the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs, the Samford Bulldogs(29-5) eventually clinched a March Madness Berth after beating the East Tennessee State Buccaneers(19-16) by a score of 76-69, according to ESPN.

Photo Credit: John Byrum, Icon Sportswire

The Buccaneers put up a fight against the Bulldogs, though they were 8.5 point underdogs before the game. Going into the tournament, the Buccaneers held the seventh seed in the Southern Conference, but went on a short 3-0 run in the tournament, taking down both the second and third seeds in the tournament in University of North Carolina Greensboro and the aforementioned Samford Bulldogs, according to the official Southern Conference bracket.

Photo Credit: Kathy Kmonicek, Associated Press

East Tennessee, though down nine points at the 15:29 mark in the second half, made a run to bring the game to a tight one, being down one point at the 6:22 mark of the second half. Samford, though, went on a 11-5 run to end the game, punching their ticket to the big dance. 

In what was likely a one-bid conference, expect the Bulldogs to play either in the first four or one of the 14th, 15th, or 16th seeds in the Tournament. Sitting at 27-5 on the season, the Bulldogs, led by Achor Achor, could be a team to watch out for come next week.