Northridge Can’t Stop Samford

Joey Davenport scored 30 points to lead Samford to a 70-55 victory over Cal State Northridge in the first round of the Dr Pepper Classic Friday night.

Davenport made seven of 12 three-point shots and finished the first half with 20 points.

Northridge (2-8) made a brief run in the second half to pull to 61-50 with 4:28 to go. But the Matadors managed only five points the rest of the way.

Gerald Rhoden was the only Matador in double figures with 12.

Samford (5-3) will play Tennessee Chattanooga, which defeated South Carolina State earlier Friday, in the tournament’s championship game tonight.