Dec. 8, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will continue its 77-year-old series against the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs on Thursday as the adversaries are scheduled to square off at 7 p.m., in Seibert Hall.

The series between the teams began during the 1927-28 campaign when Samford (3-3) picked up a 41-35 victory on the road in Athens, Tenn. The Bulldogs currently lead the all-time series, 6-3, with the most recent meeting between the teams occurring last season. Samford won at home in convincing fashion, 94-46.

Tennessee Wesleyan (2-9) has struggled this season and is currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

The team is currently 0-6 on the road during the 2004-05 campaign and has lost seven of its 11 games by at least 19 points. In its two earlier Division I contests, Tennessee Wesleyan fell at Birmingham-Southern, 113-61, on Nov. 27, and lost on the road against Middle Tennessee, 81-46.

TWC is only shooting 39.9 percent from the field and is allowing its opponents to convert 50.3 percent of their shots. The team, which is an NAIA affiliate, is giving up an average of 87.1 points per game this season.

Samford enters Thursday's non-conference matchup looking to end a slight slide of its own. After opening the season with an unblemished 2-0 record, the Bulldogs have dropped three of their previous four games, including the last two.

On Nov. 30, the Bulldogs lost in dramatic fashion versus IUPUI as the Jaguars' Brandon Cole connected on a 3-point basket at the buzzer to pull off a come-from-behind victory, 60-58. Samford then fell on the road against a resurgent Louisiana-Monroe team, 63-56, on Dec. 3.

When the Bulldogs are shooting well from beyond the arc, they generally win and win big.

So far this season, Samford has shot over 50.0 percent from 3-point range three times and owns a perfect 3-0 record in those games. The Bulldogs have posted 3-point shooting percentages of 64.7 twice and 50.0 percent once and own a total 3-point shooting percentage of 45.7.

Samford is averaging a margin of victory of 13.3 points per game and has outscored its opponents, 381-352. Last season, the Bulldogs shot 55.2 percent from beyond the arc against Tennessee Wesleyan and coasted to a 94-46 victory.

Samford leads the Ohio Valley Conference in three statistical rankings and currently stand among the top three teams in five additional categories.

The Bulldogs are currently ranked first in the following three statistical standings: Scoring defense (58.7 ppg), 3-point field goal percentage (.457) and 3-point field goals made (9.67 avg/g). Samford is also second in assist/turnover ratio (1.17) and rebounding defense (32.0 avg/g).

To add to those stats, the Bulldogs are also ranked third in the conference in free throw percentage (.726), field goal percentage (.480) and turnover margin (+2.50). Individual members of Samford's basketball team are also listed among the top-10 players in the conference.

Junior forward J. Robert Merritt is currently ranked second in 3-point field goals made (3.00 avg/g), while sophomore point guard Jerry Smith is in second place in assist/turnover ratio (2.14). Senior forward Bryan Boerjan is the No. 7-ranked player in OVC in steals (1.83 avg/g), while Smith (.538), Merritt (.529), Randall Gulina (.500) and Jon Mills (.476) are all among the top-10 players in 3-point field goal percentage.

The basketball team will play in the second game of a Samford University doubleheader on Thursday as the women's squad will first host the Nicholls State Lady Colonels at 5 p.m. Both games will be played in Seibert Hall with the Samford vs. Tennessee Wesleyan game scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m.

All of Samford's home games are general admission seating, $8 for adults and $4 for children 3-12 (children under the age of three are admitted free). Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.

For more information, please feel free to call the Samford athletics ticket office at (205) 726-2966.