BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - The Citadel basketball team (7-8, 0-2) could not overcome an early first-half deficit and fell 94-74 to Samford (10-5, 1-1) on Tuesday night at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs shot 46 percent in the second half and got within 10 points at the 11:50 mark, but Samford's strong start proved to be too much. 
 
Senior point guard P.J. Boutte finished with a season-high 18 points behind a 6-for-9 effort from the field and added four steals and three assists in the loss. Junior Warren Sledge tossed in 15 points and Brian White added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
 
The Citadel struggled to get shots to fall in the early going and Samford capitalized, seizing a 17-point lead. Sledge notched 10 first-half points to help counter Samford's momentum, but the home squad took a 49-24 advantage into halftime, shooting 60 percent from the field.
 
Head coach Duggar Baucom's squad burst out of the locker room with a 10-2 run fueled by Boutte. The floor general scored seven points in less than two minutes, including a trey from the wing to help his team cut its deficit to 51-34.
 
Three minutes later, Zane Najdawi followed a Quayson Williams three-pointer with two free throws to slice Samford's lead to 58-48. Samford responded by converting at the free throw line and scoring off The Citadel's miscues. With 4:20 remaining, the home Bulldogs led by 18 again and The Citadel could not close the gap.
 
Baucom's squad returns to McAlister Field House for a three-game homestand beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday vs. Mercer. The Bulldogs then host Wofford on Jan. 14 and Furman on Jan. 16.

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