Jan. 17, 2004

Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. - Eddie Harper led four Bulldogs in double figures with 15 points as Samford completed a two-game road sweep with a 51-46 Ohio Valley Conference victory at Tennessee-Martin on Saturday night at Skyhawk Arena.

Phillip Ramelli had 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds and Tyson Dorsey added 10 points to help the Bulldogs improve to 8-7 on the season and 3-1 in the OVC. It was Samford's first sweep of a road trip since defeating Jacksonville and Stetson on January 5-7, 2002.

"Tonight was about finding a way to win," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette, "We hung in there defensively, our defense has been more consistent than our offense this season. I don't know many road trips as satisfying as this."

Samford overcame a slow start as the Bulldogs were just one for their first seven from three-point range and just four of 14 from the floor. Tennessee-Martin built a 16-10 lead with 6:45 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs went on a 13-4 run by hitting their last three shots from behind the arc. Harper tied the game at 20 with 1:45 left and put Samford ahead 23-20 with 48 seconds left. Jared Newson's lay up at the end of the half gave Samford a 23-22 halftime lead.

Ramelli opened the second half with a personal 5-0 run and the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 10 points, 41-31, with 6:47 to play.

UT-Martin (5-11, 0-4 OVC) used a 9-0 run by stepped up the defensive pressure and pulled to within 41-40 with 2:23 remaining.

Newson and Jeremy Kelly combined for 32 of the Skyhawks 45 points scoring 16 points each but it was Tyler George's only points of the night, a three-pointer that brought UTM close.

Dorsey scored the Bulldog's first points in 5:48 with a pair of free throws to move the lead back to three points with 1:52 left in the game and the Skyhawks would not threaten again as the Bulldogs hit eight of 11 free throws in the final two minutes to seal the victory.

Samford shot 43 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the line while UTM shot just 38 percent from the floor and was just two of six from the free throw line. Samford committed a season-low season turnovers but were out-rebounded 34-26 in the game.

The Bulldogs will return home on Thursday to face Morehead State in a 7 p.m. game at Seibert Hall.