Samford defeated Western Carolina with a final score of 88-74 on February 1, 2026, capturing a convincing road victory in the Southern Conference matchup. The Bulldogs led for the majority of the day and improved to 11-12 overall with the win and 4-6 in league play. What made this performance stand out was Samford's complete dominance in the second half after a tight opening 20 minutes.
Dylan Faulkner totaled 23 points and 14 rebounds to power Samford to the victory. Faulkner got the Bulldogs an early lead by scoring 14 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, going 8-of-12 from the floor and 7-for-12 at the free-throw line while pulling down 10 rebounds to capture his sixth double-double of the season and third straight game. The big man's presence inside was absolutely crucial as Samford built their lead to as much as 20 points late in the contest.
Five Samford players scored in double figures, with Jadin Booth finishing with 18 points, freshman Isaiah Campbell-Finch adding 13 points, Zion Wilburn scoring 11, and Cade Norris contributing 10 points. The Bulldogs held Western Carolina to just 32 percent shooting in the second half, defending the three-point line and holding the home side to 2-of-17 from deep. This sweep extends Samford's dominance in the all-time series with the Catamounts, now leading 21-14 and winning the past 10 meetings. The Bulldogs return home for a three-game home stand starting Thursday as they look to build momentum in conference play.