BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging East Tennessee State squad looks to rebound from its first conference loss when it visits a struggling Samford team in a Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Pete Hanna Center.

The Buccaneers (12-6, 4-1 SoCon) saw a four-game win streak snapped Wednesday in a 72-68 road loss to Western Carolina. Despite the defeat, ETSU has won seven of its last nine games. The Bulldogs (9-9, 2-3) have lost three straight, including a 77-73 home loss to Furman on Wednesday, and are seeking to regain momentum in league play.

East Tennessee State will lean on guard Cam Morris, who has been a consistent offensive force. He is averaging 16.0 points over his last six games, including a 25-point performance in a win over VMI on Jan. 7. In the loss to Western Carolina, Morris contributed 19 points and four assists.

Samford’s hopes rest heavily on the scoring of Dylan Faulkner. The guard has been prolific, averaging 21.6 points over his last five contests. He poured in 25 points in a road win at VMI on Jan. 1 and followed with 24 points at Chattanooga last Saturday. Faulkner scored 19 in the midweek loss to Furman.

The Buccaneers have shown a balanced attack; in the loss to Western Carolina, Brian Taylor scored 23 points and Blake Barkley added 15. Samford, meanwhile, will need more support for Faulkner after allowing an average of 84.7 points during its three-game skid.

Saturday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Feb. 14. ETSU will look to protect its strong conference standing, while the Bulldogs aim to climb back to .500 in both league play and overall record. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. EST.