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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Mario Lopez hit five 3-pointers and two key free throws Saturday, lifting tiny Samford back into the NCAA Tournament with a 78-69 victory over Central Florida in the final of the Trans America Athletic Conference tournament.
Playing the patient, Princeton-style offense installed last year
by coach Jimmy Tillette, the third-seeded Bulldogs (21-10) made the
NCAA Tournament for the second straight time.
Central Florida opened the season at 1-9 and came into this
tournament as the fifth seed. The Golden Knights (14-18) closed the
season as winners of 11 of their last 17 games and came just one
victory away from the NCAAs despite their losing record.
Last year, the teams met in the final and Samford cruised to an
89-61 victory for its first appearance in the NCAA.
This game was nothing like that one.
Central Florida's Jason Thornton hit a 3-pointer with 2:51
remaining to pull the Knights within 66-65.
After a basket by Marc Salyers put the Bulldogs up three, Lopez
iced the game, swishing a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:14
remaining, then making two free throws 20 seconds later to put
Samford up by eight.
The Bulldogs hit five of six free throws down the stretch and,
after the final buzzer sounded, huddled at halfcourt, jumping up
and down in an arena that's beginning to feel like home.
Later, the nets came down, as the 200 fans who traveled from the
small school in suburban Birmingham soaked in the celebration.
Lopez shot 5-for-6 from 3-point range and finished with 20
points. Reed Rawlings made all 10 of his free throws and led
Samford with 21 points.
Salyers won Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament. He
finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, sending the Bulldogs in
search of a first-round NCAA upset _ maybe in Birmingham, one of
the sub-regional sites for this year's tournament.
Samford opened the season by beating St. John's and also
recorded a victory at Alabama in December.
Paul Reed led the Knights with 20 points. Thornton shot 4-for-6
from 3-point range and finished with 16.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Central Florida Clubhouse
Samford Clubhouse
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