Nov. 16, 2001
Samford vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Tip: 2 p.m., Seibert Hall on the Samford University campus
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
SAMFORD: The Bulldogs are 2-2 in home openers under Jimmy Tillette . . . Louisiana-Monroe defeated Samford's second NCAA Tournament team, 67-60, on Nov. 23, 1999 the last time they visited Birmingham . . . Samford is 3-6 against the Indians all-time in a series that began in 1939 . . . LMU competed as Northeast Louisiana until the 1999-2000 season, posting a 4-3 record against the Bulldogs . . . Under Tillette the Bulldogs have dropped two of three, winning 74-61 in Monroe in 1998 and losing 67-60 in Birmingham and 69-63 last season in Monroe . . . Through Samford's first two games Chris Weaver is still the Bulldogs' leading scorer, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds per game . . . Samford is 13-of-18 (.722) from the charity stripe through its first two games, much improved over last year . . . Sebastian Sachse led the Dogs with 11 points, Eddie Harper added 10 and Cornell Felton scored nine against Alabama.
LOUISIANA-MONROE: LMU coach Mike Vining enters the game with a 350-236 record overall in his 21st season with the Indians . . . The Indians posted a 11-17 overall mark in 2000-01 and was 8-12 for an eighth place finish in the Southland Conference . . . The Indians return five starters from 2000-01 including 7-2 center Wojciech Myrda, who blocked 10 shots against the Bulldogs last year in the Indians' 69-63 win in Monroe . . . ULM has posted a 1-1 mark in its preseason games, defeating the Atlanta Stars 84-73 on Nov. 10 and losing to VASDA USA 84-75 . . . Brian Lubek returns to lead the Indians, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds a year ago.
INSIDE STUFF: Alabama took the back-door cut away from Samford and blocked four shots when the Bulldogs tried to go to the basket. Myrda blocked 10 Bulldog shots last year so Samford must shoot well to defeat the team CNN/SI ranked the 55th best team in the country. The Bulldogs shot 56 percent against Loyola Marymount but only 39 percent against Alabama.
AIR: WVSU-FM 91.1, joined in progress following the Samford football game with VMI which begins at Noon.
INTERNET: www.samfordsports.com
