Dec. 17, 2001

Box Score
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Corey Green scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead three Bulldogs in double figures as Samford defeated Florida Atlantic 68-66 in overtime in NCAA Division I-A and Atlantic Sun conference basketball Monday.

Samford (5-3, 3-0 A-Sun) knocked down a trio of three-pointers in overtime, each time to regain the lead, and made three of four free throws to hold off the Owls at Seibert Hall. Chris Weaver knocked down the first at the 3:01 mark, then Cornell Felton and Eddie Harper hit back-to-back treys with 1:37 and 00:39 remaining. The Bulldogs held leads of nine points in the first half and seven in the second, only to have FAU battle back and take the Bulldogs to the limit, even leading three times in overtime.

The game was a battle of unbeatens as FAU (4-4, 2-1 A-Sun) was tied with the Bulldogs at 2-0 in the conference going into the game. Samford is now the only undefeated team in league play, after being picked eighth in the coaches' preseason poll.

Green scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half, while Harper had a big second half with nine of his 13 coming in the second period and in overtime. Felton added 15 for the Bulldogs, 10 coming in the first half. Weaver finished with nine points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Owls had four players in double figures, led by Raheim Brown's 14 points. Earnest Crumbley and Andre Garner each added 13 and Robert Williams scored 10. Samford shot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point line, but committed 24 turnovers to FAU's 13. The Owls added 17 steals but Samford outrebounded FAU 35-33. The Bulldogs held FAU to 41 percent shooting from the field and 28 percent from the three-point line. Neither team performed well at the free throw line, Samford shooting 57 percent to FAU's 54.

Samford led 11-2 early, but FAU used an 11-0 run to take its first lead, 13-11. The Bulldogs built a seven-point bulge twice more in the first half, but a lay-up by Anthony Slater cut Samford's halftime lead to 30-26.

FAU tied the game twice in the second half before extending to a 4-point lead with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Lay-ups by Green kept Samford within a basket at 54-52 and 56-54, and a jumper by Felton in the lane with 1:03 left tied the game to force overtime.

The lead changed hands six times in overtime with two ties.

Samford hosts UCF in another key conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19. The Bulldogs also host Morehead State Friday at 7 p.m. at Seibert Hall to conclude a busy week of action.