Men's Basketball | 11/26/2021 8:38:00 AM
North Carolina A&T (1-5) vs. Samford (3-1)
When: Friday, Nov. 26, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Raider Arena (Niceville, Fla.)
TV/Radio: Emerald Coast TV / Spencer Turkin (Tobacco Road Sports)
A&T Team Leaders
Points: Tyler Maye (10.3 PPG)
Rebounds: Marcus Watson (5.3 RPG)
Assists: Kameron Langley (5.0 APG)
Blocks: Harry Morrice (12)
Steals: Kameron Langley (13)
Field Goal Percentage: Tyler Maye (.500)
3-pt Field Goal Percentage: Jeremy Robinson (.455)
Free Throw Percentage: Tyler Maye (.714)
A&T Big South Leaders (Top-10)
Assists: Kameron Langley (30) – 1st
Blocks: Harry Morrice (12) – 3rd
Steals: Kameron Langley (13) – 1st
A&T National Leaders (Top-100)
Assists: Kameron Langley (30) – 23rd
Blocks: Harry Morrice (12) – 37th
Steals: Kameron Langley (13) – 39th
NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES (1-5): The Aggies are coming off their second-straight Power Five game, a 79-65 loss to Stanford of the PAC-12. It was a closer game than the final score indicates, with a 15-0 Cardinal run within the last five minutes proving to be the difference.
A&T seems to finally be finding its stride offensively, knocking down 29 3-pointers over the last three games and averaging more than 68 points per game in that same span. They also take care of the ball exceptionally well, considering the roster has eight newcomers. In addition, the Aggies are fourth in the Big South in turnover margin at plus-2.83, averaging 13.0 turnovers as a team while forcing 15.8 per game from their opponents, tops in the league.
Head coach Will Jones is now in his third season overall and second full season after initially taking over on an interim basis on Dec. 24, 2019. Jones has compiled a 19-5 conference record and the program's first regular-season conference title since 1990 since taking over. He even earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) coach of the year honors in 2019-20 and sports a 26-20 (.565) overall record at the program's helm.
SAMFORD BULLDOGS (3-1): The Bulldogs are 3-1 on the young season and are coming off their most impressive win of the season, a 78-77 nail-biter over the Oregon State Beavers in the first round of the Emerald Coast Classic.
The preseason coaches poll projected Samford to finish eighth, and the media poll had Bulldogs finishing ninth. They average 79.5 points per game offensively and are holding opponents to 75.2 points defensively. The Bulldogs also take advantage of their free throw opportunities, knocking down a league-leading 76.5 percent of their shots from the line.
Sophomore guard Ques Glover leads the team and is fifth in the SoCon, averaging 17.8 points per game. He is one of three Bulldogs that average double-figures in scoring. Glover scored a season-high 24 points against San Francisco on Nov. 15.
Bucky McMillan was named the 19th head coach in Samford's program history on April 6, 2020. "BuckyBall," a term coined to describe the Bulldogs fast pace of play, has taken effect since. Last season, Samford led the nation with 91.0 possessions per game, and they are on pace for 81.0 per game this year. McMillan is 9-14 (.391) since taking the job, including 3-8 (.273) on the road.
THE SERIES: Friday marks the first all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Aggies. A&T is 9-12 (.429) against current Southern Conference (SoCon) schools.
QUOTABLE: "This is a special tournament for me going back to the place that jump-started my career. Northwest Florida State College is home away from home for the Aggies and me this week. I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces."
Head coach Will Jones on the Emerald Coast Classic
"We have played a tough opening stretch. We have grown tremendously as a group, and we are getting close to being a good team. We are focused on the big picture. One game at a time. This tournament gives us a chance to play two like opponents on a neutral court. It will be about what team wants it most."
Coach Jones ahead of this weekend's action
GAME NOTES:
- Langley has taken his assisting abilities from the MEAC to the Big South. He leads the Big South in assists per game (5.0). Langley led the MEAC in assists three straight seasons starting in the 2018-19 season.
- The Aggies also lead the Big South in steals and rank 21st nationally, with Langley leading the way. He has 13 steals to rank 46th nationally and second in the league.
- After playing Samford, the Aggies will play either McNeese State or St. Francis (NY), depending on the results from Friday night.
- Jones was an assistant coach at Northwest Florida State College from 2007-09.
- In that time, the Raiders consistently ranked in the top-10.
- Under Jones' tutelage, 11 players went on to the Division-I level. Following that trend, Jones made the jump to Division I Charleston Southern in 2009.
- Jones faced Samford twice while an assistant coach at Jacksonville University and split the games, 1-1.
