BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A pair of Southern Conference Bulldogs will clash Thursday when The Citadel visits Samford at Pete Hanna Center. The Citadel (8-15) enters on a two-game winning streak, including a 71-66 overtime victory over UNC Greensboro on Saturday. Samford (11-12) is coming off an impressive 88-74 road win at Western Carolina last Sunday, powered by a dominant performance from forward Dylan Faulkner. The matchup features two of the league’s standout frontcourt players. For The Citadel, Sola Adebisi has been a consistent force, averaging 9.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in conference play. He posted 22 points in a win over Furman on Jan. 21 and nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds against UNC Greensboro. Samford counters with Faulkner, who is averaging a double-double in his last seven games, including a 23-point, 14-rebound, five-assist effort in the win over Western Carolina. His recent stretch features four double-doubles, making him one of the most productive players in the conference. The Citadel has shown resilience, winning three of its last four games, with two of those victories coming in overtime. Samford has been inconsistent in league play but demonstrated its high ceiling with the decisive road win last weekend. This game is the first of a regular-season home-and-home series between the teams, who will meet again in Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 19. Thursday’s contest tips off a critical stretch for both teams as they navigate the second half of the conference schedule. The Citadel visits Chattanooga on Saturday, while Samford hosts Mercer on Feb. 7.