CULLOWHEE, N.C. — In a dominant performance on Saturday night, Jaden Brownell scored 23 points, helping Samford secure an 88-69 victory over Western Carolina.

Brownell excelled on the court, making 8 of his 11 attempts shooting, which included 3 out of 5 from beyond the arc, and converting 4 of 5 free throws. The Bulldogs improved their record to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the Southern Conference. Trey Fort also played a significant role, contributing 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting, which included another 3 of 5 from three-point territory, along with 3 successful free throws. Additionally, Larry Olayinka was efficient, finishing the game with 12 points and a perfect shooting record of 5 for 5.

On the other side, Bernard Pelote was the standout for the Catamounts, scoring 22 points in a losing effort. Western Carolina, now at 4-9 with a Southern Conference record of 0-2, saw contributions from Cord Stansberry, who added 11 points along with two steals, and CJ Hyland, who chipped in 10 points and also recorded two steals.

Looking ahead, Samford will play their next game at home on Thursday against VMI, while Western Carolina is set to travel to Wofford for a match on Wednesday.