BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A pair of winless Bulldog squads will face off Friday night when the South Carolina State Bulldogs visit the Samford Bulldogs in a non-conference men’s basketball game.

Both teams are 0-1 after suffering season-opening road losses on Monday. South Carolina State was routed 104-45 at Louisville, while Samford fell 85-72 at Tulane.

Samford’s backcourt duo of Jadin Booth and Dylan Faulkner will be the primary concern for South Carolina State. Booth exploded for 34 points in the opener, and Faulkner nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds. Rayniel Wright, who scored 11 points for South Carolina State in its loss, will be tasked with helping counter that production.

The game offers an early opportunity for both programs to rebound from difficult starts before navigating challenging upcoming schedules. South Carolina State travels to face North Carolina A&T on Monday, while Samford’s next contest is a road test at Arkansas on Nov. 14.