BIRMINGHAM — Kintavious Dozier sank a pair of free throws with eight seconds left for Alabama A&M and a 3-pointer by Samford’s Jadin Booth at the buzzer rimmed in and out as the Bulldogs defeated Samford in a thriller, 74-73, Monday night in the opening game of Ballin’ in Boutwell at Boutwell Auditorium.
Dozier scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the first half to pace Alabama A&M. He also finished with seven rebounds and four assists. Bilal Abdur-Rahman came off the bench to pour in 13 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, and three steals. James Graham and Sam Pissis added 11 points each, while Graham also pulled down seven boards.
Dylan Faulker led Samford with 15 points, on 6-of-8 shooting, with six rebounds and three blocked shots. Booth tossed in 14 points, including three 3-pointers, while Judson Bjornstad added 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Maroon & White started the game strong, going 3-for-5 from the floor as Sam Pissis completed a three-point play, giving Alabama A&M the early 10-9 advantage with 16:07 remaining in the opening half.
Kintavious Dozier took over for the next two minutes, scoring on a fastbreak dunk and a layup, pushing the AAMU lead to 14-9 with just over 14 minutes to play.
Back came Samford, using an 8-0 run to take a 17-16 lead after a Judson Bjornstad bucket with 11:03 left.
Samford stretched the lead to 27-23 after Caleb Harrison layup with exactly six minutes remaining in the first half.
Alabama A&M responded with back-to-back 3-pointers by Pissis and Dozier, giving AAMU the 29-27 advantage with 4:28 left.
AAMU closed out the final three and a half minutes strong, holding Samford to just one field goal during that stretch and using a commanding 12-3 run to take a 41-33 lead into the break.
Alabama A&M quickly extended the lead to 45-33 as P.J. Eason scored on a layup with 18:55 left in the game.
Back came Samford, using a 9-1 run to cut Alabama A&M’s lead to 46-42 after a triple by Jadin Booth with 16:20 remaining, but a bucket by Bilal Abdur-Rahman ended a more than three-minute stretch without a field goal as AAMU led 48-42 with 15:22 left.
Alabama A&M pushed the lead back to double digits, but Samford refused to go away, cutting the deficit to 54-52 after free throws by Cade Norris with just under 11 minutes remaining.
Samford pulled to within, 58-57, but Alabama A&M used a 7-0 run, capped by a Gabe Kincy driving layup, giving AAMU a 64-57 lead with 8:03 left.
Layups by JD Gossett and Zion Wilburn, followed by a free throw by Will Shaver tied the game at 66 with exactly five minutes to play, but a layup by P.J. Eason put AAMU back ahead 68-66 with 3:57 left.
The two teams continued to trade baskets before free throws by Eason gave AAMU a 72-70 lead with 1:49 remaining, but Dylan Faulkner completed a three-point play with 29.5 seconds left, giving Samford the 73-72 advantage.
AAMU let the clock dwindle down before Dozier was fouled driving the line. The senior sank the pair at the line, giving Alabama A&M the 74-73 lead with eight seconds left.
Samford had one more opportunity to win the game but Booth’s 3-pointer rimmed in and out as Alabama A&M picked up the exhibition win.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 38.5% (25-of-65) from the floor and 90.5% (19-of-21) from the free-throw line
- The Maroon & White grabbed 39 rebounds, with 27 coming off the defensive glass
- Kintavious Dozier scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the first half paced Alabama A&M, and also finished with seven rebounds and four assists
- Bilal Abdur-Rahman came off the bench to pour in 13 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, and three steals
- James Graham and Sam Pissis added 11 points each
- Alabama A&M finished with 32 points in the paint, 20 bench points, 15 points off 14 Samford turnovers, 12 fastbreak points and eight second-chance points
- Samford went 26-of-56 shooting (46.4%) and 15-of-23 (65.2%) from the charity stripe
- Samford grabbed 35 rebounds, including 29 on the defensive end
- Dylan Faulker registered 15 points, on 6-of-8 shooting, with six rebounds and three blocked shots
- Jadin Booth tossed in 14 points, including three 3-pointers
- Judson Bjornstad added 11 points
- Samford finished with 36 points in the paint, 27 bench points, 10 points off 10 AAMU turnovers, seven second-chance points and five fastbreak points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its exhibition slate Oct. 27 as the Bulldogs welcome UAH to the AAMU Event Center. Tip-off for the Mayor’s Cup game against the Chargers is scheduled for 7 p.m.
