March 2, 2001

Box Score

ATLANTA (AP) - Two-time defending TAAC Tournament champion Samford used a 14-1 run to erase a 11-point deficit and to take the lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game, but turnovers and mistakes cost the Bulldogs the game, 66-56, and chance to compete for a third straight title crown.

Georgia State(27-4) took the lead for good with 3:54 left on two free throws by Thomas Terrell, stretched it to 58-54 on one free throw by Lamont McIntosh and two by Darryl Cooper.

Marc Salyers, who had 25 points, scored the final points for Samford (15-14) on two free throws with 2:34 to go before Shernard Long put the Panthers in control with two layups.

The loss ended Samford's season and head coach Jimmy Tillette's bid for a third title in four years.

It was the 17th straight home court victory for the Panthers, who ended Samford's two-year run as champion in the Trans America Athletic Conference tournament, snapping its seven-game postseason winning streak.

The victory sends Georgia State into Saturday's championship game against the winner of the Troy State-Stetson semifinal later Friday night.

Cooper led the Panthers with 19 points, Long and Terrell added 14 each and Kevin Morris had 12.

Chris Weaver and Derrick Jones each had 11 points for the Bulldogs.

Cooper scored 13 points in a row for the Panthers in the first half, helping State take a 34-26 lead at intermission.

When Morris converted a 3-pointer from the left corner with 13:40 to go, GSU had a 44-32 lead.

Salyers had 10 points in the Samford rally. It was his alley-oop dunk that gave the Bulldogs a 53-51 lead with 4:30 left.