Cromer, ETSU cruise past Samford in SoCon Tournament

Mar 6, 2017, 02:04 pm

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Sam Cromer tied the Southern Conference Tournament record with nine 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 41 points to lead East Tennessee State past Samford 81-72 on Sunday night.

Cromer made 11 of 18 from the field and 10 of 11 free throws. Desonta Bradford added 13 points and five assists for third-seeded ETSU (26-7), which will face No. 1 seed UNC-Greensboro in the championship game on Monday.

Cromer scored 14 points, including three 3s and a conventional 3-point play, during a 23-6 run to open the game and ETSU never trailed. He finished with six 3-pointers and 25 points in the first half as the Bucs took a 41-28 lead into the break. A.J. Merriweather hit a 3 before Cromer added three more during a 12-0 spurt that gave ETSU its biggest lead, 53-30, with 15:28 to play.

Christen Cunningham led No. 7 seed Samford (19-15) with a career-high 30 points. Alex Thompson and Wyatt Walker scored 14 apiece.

ETSU made just one field goal, but hit 12 of 13 free throws, in the final seven minutes as the Bulldogs trimmed their deficit to eight in the closing seconds.