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RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) -- Robert Merritt scored 24 points to lead Samford to a 67-61 win over Eastern Kentucky Saturday night.
Merritt scored 22 of those points in the second half on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. He knocked down five of his team's 11 3-pointers, all in the second half.
Joe Ross Merritt and Jerry Smith followed Merritt with 13 points each as Samford won its sixth straight to open Ohio Valley Conference play.
Samford (11-6) rallied from a 30-17 halftime deficit, outscoring Eastern 36-13 to open the second half for a 53-43 lead with 6:24 remaining.
Alonzo Hird and Zach Ingles led Eastern Kentucky (11-6, 3-3) with 11 points each.
Hird scored eight of his team's first 17 points as the Colonels jumped out to a 17-4 lead with eight minutes left in the first half.
Samford missed its first seven shots from the field, but used a 7-0 run that narrowed the margin to 17-12.
The Bulldogs shot 70 percent in the second half (14-of-20) and 53 percent for the game.
