ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Sam Cromer tied the Southern Conference Tournament record with nine 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 41 points to lead East Tennessee State past Samford 81-72 on Sunday night.

Cromer made 11 of 18 from the field and 10 of 11 free throws. Desonta Bradford added 13 points and five assists for third-seeded ETSU (26-7), which will face No. 1 seed UNC-Greensboro in the championship game on Monday.

Cromer scored 14 points, including three 3s and a conventional 3-point play, during a 23-6 run to open the game and ETSU never trailed. He finished with six 3-pointers and 25 points in the first half as the Bucs took a 41-28 lead into the break. A.J. Merriweather hit a 3 before Cromer added three more during a 12-0 spurt that gave ETSU its biggest lead, 53-30, with 15:28 to play.