Nov 27, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- Tyson Dorsey scored 20 points and Josh Hare added 19 points to lead four Bulldogs in double figures as Samford posted 90 points for the first time since Jan. 13, 2001 in a 90-81 victory over North Georgia Wednesday afternoon at Seibert Hall.

The Bulldogs shot 54 percent from the floor, 56 percent from the three-point line, and 96 percent from the foul line to improve to 2-1 on the season. Samford looked like it might run away with the game as it went 11-15 (73 percent) from three-point range in the first half to take a 51-37 lead into the intermission. Cornell Felton had 13 points and J. Robert Merritt had 11 points before fouling out with 12:14 to play.

North Georgia (3-4) battled back in the second half. Lead by Kendrick Johnson who scored a game-high 27 points and Mark Causey who scored 19 points, the Saints pulled to within two points at 62-60 with 9:06 to play. Dorsey and Bryan Boerjan hit back-to back 3-pointers to move the Bulldog lead back to eight. The Saints made one last run with two minutes to play and cut the lead to three. Johnson dunked an offense rebound to pull the score to 77-74, but Johnson hung on the rim and was called for a technical foul. Dorsey made both free throws and then found Eddie Harper on a back cut lay-up to again push the lead back to seven.

North Georgia was forced to foul in the final minutes, which proved to be a bad idea. Samford went 21-22 from the free throw line in the game. The Bulldogs connected on their first 16 free throws. Samford finished the game 15-27 from three-point range while North Georgia went 1-11 from long range. The Saints scored 40 points in the paint and drew 27 fouls against the Bulldogs but poor free throw shooting proved to be their undoing. NGC made just 18-31 (58 percent) from the charity stripe.

Samford has now won two straight and will hit the road for the first time this season on Monday. The Bulldogs travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to face an Arkansas State team they defeated 70-61 on Monday. Tip off is at 7 p.m. in the ASU Convocation Center.