BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford defeated Thomas, 98-51, on Friday evening inside the Pete Hanna Center in the Night Hawks' final exhibition. 

"We played well early, but the Bulldogs did a great job of making shots all night," Thomas coach Brent Crews said. "We've played a very difficult schedule so far, and our players can use tonight as a learning experience to get better and tougher."
 
Alex Thompson came off the bench to score 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field for Samford (3-8). Demetrius Denzel-Dyson and Stefan Lakic each scored 17 points, while Josh Sharkey added 13 points, seven assists and four steals. Sharkey finished 7-of-11 from the free throw line. Eric Adams had 11 points and eight rebounds.

JaVoris Cooks finished with 10 points and five rebounds for the Green and White. Jerodd Blount added eight points off the bench, while Willie Holloway and Dante DiSipio each scored six. Jalen Bonds hauled in six rebounds. Jakari Bush dished out five assists. 

The Bulldogs shot 58.9 percent (33-of-56) from the floor, 8-of-17 from 3 and 24-of-37 from the line.

The Night Hawks totaled 13 assists on 19 made baskets and were 8-of-10 from the line.

Cooks opened the game with a trey, and a Holloway dunk followed by a D.J. Roulhac 3-pointer gave the visitors a 10-6 edge less than three minutes into the contest. An Eric Johnson steal and layup put Thomas ahead by one at the 15:32 mark, but the Bulldogs responded with an 18-6 run in a 5:52 span and shot 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the floor, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-16 from the charity stripe in the opening period to lead 54-29 at the break.

Thomas travels to Saint Leo (Fla.), a NCAA Division II member, for its final game of the calendar year on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.