Marshall’s Heroics Lead Samford Over Furman
How do we put into words what we just witnessed? March basketball showed up early in February in a wild 74-72 Samford win over Furman. Jermaine Marshall scored Samford’s final four points of the night and put the team on his back in the process.
The events throughout that game were a microcosm of Samford’s season. AJ Staton-McCray was not available due to injury. Achor Achor only played nine minutes and his night ended in a walking boot with a foot issue. Samford was down in critical moments and had to dig deep. The Bulldogs were down two of their best players and found a way to win.
This version of Bucky Ball might just be a team of destiny. Furman G JP Pegues was absolutely unconscious from the floor in the second half. He had 26 of Furman’s final 28 points.
Samford was down five with 45 seconds left and it looked all but over.
After two free throws from Pegues, Samford went down and Jaden Campbell hit a big three-pointer to cut the Furman lead to two. Samford goes to their standard press and PJay Smith has trouble inbounding the ball. He turned it over to Jermaine Marshall who then got fouled. Marshall makes two free throws to tie the game.
That three by Campbell cannot be overstated as Samford does not win without that.
In the ensuing possession, Samford plays great defense on Pegues as Marshall gets the rebound off the missed shot and goes coast-to-coast for the game winning layup. Marshall willed his way to help Samford secure the massive victory. He would not be denied. He also played over half of the second half with four fouls.
On that last possession, Marshall took it upon himself to lock down JP Pegues who could not miss in the second half. Jermaine said that he would have to go through me. “I took it personal”, he said. “I put the team on my back. If you want to score then you have to go through me. I knew we needed a big stop.”
On the second free throw, Jermaine Marshall passed the 1,000 career point mark and what an insane way to make that happen. He came into the media room with the basketball and with memories that he will never forget. Marshall is leaving his mark on this Samford team and this program.
For Samford to win three games in three days at the Southern Conference tournament, Samford will have to win games like this. After the game, Samford Scoop asked Bucky McMillan about winning unique games like this Furman one.
“When you get to tournament basketball, it is never going to be pretty to go get three games. This time of year you aren’t going to get them with tricky plays. Tough plays will always be beaten by tough players. Whoever gets into the NCAA Tournament will have to play games that way.”
Well that is a good thing because Samford is full of tough and competitive players. The perfect mix that you need to win a conference tournament.
Samford battled and fought to find a way. Even Rylan Jones looked like he played a boxing match instead with a cut on his head following a fall. After said fall, he made two free throws to tie the game at that point. Jones led Samford in scoring with 17 points.
The ending of this game even made Scott Van Pelt’s “Best Thing I Saw Today” on SportsCenter.
Bucky McMillan said in his opening statement, that the last thing on the board before leaving the locker room was, “Don’t be denied. “We did not talk about strategy, we talked about this, do not be denied.” Well Marshall and his team took that message to heart. Samford prepares in practice for moments like these and it definitely showed.
An historic night that will be remembered forever as Samford tied the school record for most regular season wins in school history. The heroics of Jermaine Marshall are the story but do not overlook other guys stepping up with two starters being injured.
There are only two home games left as Samford looks to win the outright SoCon regular season title. Be there.
