GAME NOTES: Trying to stop a three-game losing streak, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will host the Samford Bulldogs in a non-conference clash at LJVM Coliseum Sunday.

Samford itself comes into the contest a little wounded, sporting a 3-7 record. The Bulldogs have lost two straight games, one to VMI (88-66) and the most recent to Furman (74-64).

Wake Forest won its first two contests to start the season, then dropped back- to-back games to fall to 2-2. Two more wins improved the Deacons to 4-2 before the team dropped three straight entering this contest. Wake Forest is coming off a 78-65 defeat at NC State.

The first and only time these two teams met occurred during the 1992 season. The then-No. 19 ranked Deacons cruised to a 74-45 victory over the Bulldogs in Winston-Salem.

Samford was downed by Furman after the Paladins got a breakout performance from Stephen Croone, who netted 33 points with six rebounds. Samford shot just 35.6 percent from the floor in the loss, and was led offensively by Darius Jones-Gibson's 15 points. Brandon Roberts contributed 11 points and Jamal Shabazz chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds in the defeat. The Bulldogs hit on just 5-of-23 from 3-point range against Furman.

For the Bulldogs, who average 64.1 ppg this season, not a single player on the roster averages a scoring total in the double digits. The team is led by Christen Cunningham's 9.8 ppg, followed closely by Jones-Gibson and Tyler Hood, who each chip in 9.6 ppg. Michael Bradley leads Samford in rebounding, bringing down 5.9 boards per outing, as Cunningham tops the squad with a 4.4 apg mark. The Bulldogs are allowing opponents to score an unsightly 73.7 ppg.

It's been over a week since the Demon Deacons last took the court against NC State. Wake Forest couldn't keep pace with the Wolfpack in the contest, as the Deacons hit on just 38.6 percent of their shots in the game. Codi Miller- McIntyre paced Wake Forest with 22 points and seven rebounds. Both Devin Thomas and Mitchell Wilbekin chipped in with 10 points in the loss for the Demon Deacons, who only made 16-of-30 from the free-throw line.

Miller-McIntyre tops Wake Forest in the scoring category this season, netting 12.3 ppg to pace a team that averages 71.3 ppg. Thomas is the only other player to amass a double-digit scoring total this season, scoring 10.7 ppg on 46.4 percent shooting. He's also the team's best rebounder entering the game, grabbing 9.4 rpg to come up just shy of a double-double average. Madison Jones has dished out a team-best 25 assists, but has turned the ball over 26 times in nine games played. The Demon Deacons are allowing opponents to score 68.6 ppg on 43.6 percent shooting from the floor.

Neither team has shown anything special over the last few outings, but Wake Forest is in a completely different league than Samford, which plays in the Southern Conference. At home, the Demon Deacons should be able to grab a lead and use Miller-McIntyre and Thomas to distance themselves from Samford.