NCAAB · Final

Furman Paladins Edge Samford Bulldogs in Close Contest

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · Harrah's Cherokee Center

Furman Paladins 86, Samford Bulldogs 81, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Furman Paladins vs Samford Bulldogs?

Furman Paladins beat Samford Bulldogs 86-81 at Harrah's Cherokee Center on March 7, 2026.

Who was favored in Furman Paladins vs Samford Bulldogs?

Samford Bulldogs were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The underdog won.

In a thrilling matchup at the Harrah's Cherokee Center, the Furman Paladins triumphed over the Samford Bulldogs with a final score of 86-81. This game was significant as it marked another victory for Furman over Samford, extending their head-to-head record to 5-0 in the last five meetings, including two encounters this season.

Furman entered the game with a record of 20-12, while Samford had an 18-14 record. The Bulldogs had been in solid form recently, winning eight of their last ten games, which included a two-game winning streak leading into this contest. They averaged 81.8 points scored per game during this stretch while allowing 72.0 points. In contrast, the Paladins had a more mixed recent form, with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games and an average of 72.6 points scored and 70.8 points allowed. Furman was looking to bounce back after a loss to the Western Carolina Catamounts just days before this game.

The home team, Samford, had a strong home record of 5-0 in their last five games, showcasing their ability to perform well in front of their fans. However, the Paladins were also competitive on the road, with a 2-3 record in their last five away games. The recent performances set the stage for an exciting clash, with both teams eager to secure a win.

In terms of previous meetings, the Bulldogs had faced the Paladins twice this season, losing both encounters. The first was a close game on January 29, where Samford fell 73-78, and they also lost 73-77 in a previous matchup on January 15. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the game, as Samford sought to break their losing streak against Furman.

Injury reports indicated that both teams were relatively healthy, with no significant absences affecting their lineups. This allowed both coaching staffs to field their best players, contributing to a competitive atmosphere.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Samford as a slight favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total points line was set at 147.5, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring game. The odds for Samford to win outright were -122.0, while Furman was listed at 102.0.

As the game unfolded, it was clear that both teams were prepared to battle for every point. The second half saw pivotal moments that swung the momentum. Jadin Booth made a crucial 23-foot three-point jumper, assisted by Keaton Norris, which pushed Furman ahead 81-76. Following that, Cole Bowser added to the Paladins' lead with a pair of free throws, bringing the score to 83-76. Samford fought back, with Dylan Faulkner scoring a dunk to narrow the gap, but the Paladins maintained their composure down the stretch.

The closing minutes featured several free throws, with Tom House contributing to Furman's score from the charity stripe. Despite Samford's efforts to rally, including another three-pointer from Booth, they could not overcome the deficit. The final score of 86-81 reflected the competitive nature of the game and Furman's ability to execute in critical moments.

Overall, this game showcased the resilience and skill of the Furman Paladins, who continue to assert their dominance over the Samford Bulldogs in their recent encounters.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	SAM -1.5	147.5 o -105 / u -115	Furman Paladins +102 · Samford Bulldogs -122

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsJadin Booth34Samford Bulldogs
AssistsKeaton Norris4Samford Bulldogs
ReboundsDylan Faulkner9Samford Bulldogs
PointsTom House20Furman Paladins
AssistsAlex Wilkins3Furman Paladins
ReboundsCharles Johnston10Furman Paladins

Recent form

Samford Bulldogs

Last 10: 8-2Streak W281.8 scored · 72 allowed per game5-0 at home

W87-78vs UNC Greensboro SpartansFeb 28
W80-61vs VMI KeydetsFeb 27
L86-89at Mercer BearsFeb 21
W78-75at The Citadel BulldogsFeb 20
W82-72at East Tennessee State BuccaneersFeb 14
W97-80vs Wofford TerriersFeb 12
W69-49vs Mercer BearsFeb 7
W78-64vs The Citadel BulldogsFeb 6
W88-74at Western Carolina CatamountsFeb 1
L73-78at Furman PaladinsJan 29

Furman Paladins

Last 10: 5-5Streak L172.6 scored · 70.8 allowed per game2-3 away

L67-86at Western Carolina CatamountsFeb 28
W72-51vs The Citadel BulldogsFeb 25
W76-67at Wofford TerriersFeb 22
L69-78vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersFeb 18
W90-72at VMI KeydetsFeb 14
L64-69at Mercer BearsFeb 12
L64-67vs UNC Greensboro SpartansFeb 8
L71-75at East Tennessee State BuccaneersFeb 5
W75-70vs Chattanooga MocsFeb 1
W78-73vs Samford BulldogsJan 29

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
East Tennessee State	23-11	-	13-5
Mercer	19-13	2	11-7
Wofford	19-13	2	11-7
Samford	18-14	2	11-7
Furman	22-13	3	10-8
Western Carolina	15-16	3	10-8
UNC Greensboro	15-19	4	9-9
Chattanooga	13-19	6	7-11
The Citadel	11-22	6	7-11
VMI	6-26	12	1-17

Box score

Stat	Furman Paladins	Samford Bulldogs
Field goals	29-62	27-55
Field goal %	47	49
Three-pointers	11-21	13-29
Three-point %	52	45
Free throws	17-21	14-19
Free throw %	81	74
Rebounds	36	31
Offensive rebounds	10	6
Defensive rebounds	26	25
Assists	11	11
Steals	8	5
Blocks	2	4
Turnovers	7	11
Team turnovers	0	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	11	9
Fast-break points	0	5
Points in the paint	32	20
Fouls	17	17
Largest lead	11	3
Lead changes	7	7
Time in front	78	16

How the scoring went

2nd Half48-49Jadin Booth makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dylan Faulkner assists)
2nd Half50-49Alex Wilkins makes driving layup
2nd Half50-52Cade Norris makes 23-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Campbell-Finch assists)
2nd Half52-52Ben Vander Wal makes layup
2nd Half54-52Asa Thomas makes layup (Abijah Franklin assists)
2nd Half57-52Abijah Franklin makes 25-foot three point jumper (Eddrin Bronson assists)
2nd Half57-54Cade Norris makes layup
2nd Half59-54Ben Vander Wal makes 10-foot hook shot
2nd Half61-54Alex Wilkins makes 9-foot jumper
2nd Half61-56Isaiah Campbell-Finch makes 9-foot jumper
2nd Half63-56Alex Wilkins makes 0-foot tip in layup
2nd Half63-59Cade Norris makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kam Martin assists)
2nd Half66-59Tom House makes 27-foot three pointer
2nd Half66-60Jadin Booth makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half66-61Jadin Booth makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half66-62Kam Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half66-63Kam Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half66-65Dylan Faulkner makes layup
2nd Half68-65Tom House makes driving layup
2nd Half69-65Eddrin Bronson makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half70-65Eddrin Bronson makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half72-65Cooper Bowser makes 9-foot hook shot
2nd Half75-65Tom House makes 25-foot three point jumper (Abijah Franklin assists)
2nd Half75-68Cade Norris makes 26-foot three point jumper
2nd Half76-68Abijah Franklin makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half76-70Keaton Norris makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half77-70Tom House makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half78-70Tom House makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half79-70Tom House makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half79-73Keaton Norris makes 24-foot three point jumper
2nd Half80-73Tom House makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half81-73Tom House makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half81-76Jadin Booth makes 23-foot three point jumper (Keaton Norris assists)
2nd Half82-76Cole Bowser makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half83-76Cole Bowser makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half83-78Dylan Faulkner makes 4-foot dunk (Keaton Norris assists)
2nd Half84-78Tom House makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half85-78Tom House makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half85-81Jadin Booth makes 25-foot three point jumper
2nd Half86-81Eddrin Bronson makes free throw 2 of 2