Nov. 17, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - It was only an exhibition but what an exhibition it was. Samford drained 19 three-pointers and shot 54 percent from the floor on its way to a 100-74 men's basketball victory at Seibert Hall on Monday night.

J. Robert Merritt led four Bulldogs in double-figures with 20 points. Phillip Ramelli had 16 points and nine assists while Tyson Dorsey and Eddie Harper added 13 and 12 points respectively.

"That is what our offense is all about," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "If our offense is run correctly we should have the opportunity in every game to record those types of numbers." Those types of numbers included 37-68 from the floor and 19-37 (51.4 percent) from the three-point arc. The Bulldogs also had 30 assists compared to just nine for VASDA.

VASDA was led by Patrick Binion who scored 27 points and Shawn Hall who had 17 points and seven rebounds. Ali Thompson added 12 points and six boards for the visitors who played with just seven players.

The 100 points were the most Samford has scored since its 2000 exhibition game with VASDA. The Bulldogs won that game 101-76 before going 21-11 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The last time Samford scored 100 points in a game that counted was on Jan. 2, 1999 when Samford defeated Troy State 105-75.

"I thought we played well to a degree," said Tillette. "I thought we shot a little quickly early in the game but that was because we were open. We have to learn to turn down some shots and be patient. We won't win many games in our league shooting 68 times."

VASDA was hot at the beginning of the game as it made its first five shots and six of its first seven to take a 16-10 lead at the 16:31 mark of the first half. Samford then went on an 11-5 run to tie the score at 21 with 13:49 to play in the opening period. The Bulldogs began to wear down the visitors toward the end of the half and Josh Hare hit a three-pointer as time expired to give Samford a 47-37 halftime lead.

The second half was all Bulldogs as Samford out-scored VASDA 53-37 in the second period. The Bulldogs shot 60.6 percent from the floor and 64.3 percent from three-point range in the second half.

All 11 players for Samford that played scored in the game. Harper and Bryan Boerjan led the team in rebounding with seven a piece.

Samford will open up the regular season on Sunday as it travels to Purdue for a 2 p.m. tip-off. It will be the Bulldogs first ever meeting against a team from the Big 10. Samford opens its home schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 25, against Bryan College at 7 p.m.