Feb. 26, 2004

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Eddie Harper scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor and J. Robert Merritt scored 11 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to record the Bulldogs' first double-double of the season as Samford defeated Tennessee State 86-70 in the regular season finale at Seibert Hall Thursday night.

Samford (12-15, 7-9 OVC) shot 58 percent from the floor and 52 percent from three point range and hit 15 three-pointers in the game. Tyson Dorsey was five-for-six from long range and finished the night with 16 points.

Roshaun Bowens led Tennessee State (7-19, 6-9 OVC) with 23 points and seven rebounds. Bruce Price scored 22 points and Garrett Richardson added 11 points. Despite the loss, the Tigers still qualified for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with the help of a 76-63 Murray State victory over Southeast Missouri State.

"We finished the first half really shooting and defending well. It is a big win for our seniors," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "These are pretty much the same looks we have had all year hopefully tonight will be a momentum boost heading into the conference tournament."

Samford broke the game open with a 26-5 run over the final 13:48 of the first half. TSU led 18-14 on a basket by Bowens at the 13:48 mark. A lay-up by Sebastian Sachse and a three-pointer by Harper gave the Bulldogs a 19-18 lead with 12:26 remaining in the half that they would never surrender. The Bulldog defense did not allow another Tiger basket until Courtney Bohannon scored at the 5:15 mark to make the score 31-20. Samford scored the next nine points before Price hit a three-pointer with four seconds remaining to bring the halftime lead to 40-23.

The Bulldogs enjoyed their largest lead of the game of 25 points on a three-pointer by Merritt to make the score 52-27 at 16:05 mark of the second half.

Tennessee State made a run in the final five minutes of the game to get as close as 12 points on three occasions the last at 82-70 with 1:18 left to play. Merritt made four free throws in the final minute to provide the final margin of victory.

Samford out-rebounded Tennessee-State 40-26 and made 13-of-16 free throws in the game.

"We have been working hard all year long and we just wanted to come out and give a good effort in our last home game. I can't believe that it is over with. We are going to miss this place," said Harper one of four Samford seniors.

The Bulldogs will have to wait for the rest of the conference to finish the regular season on Saturday before knowing where they will play their first round OVC Tournament game on March 2.

If Tennessee Tech defeats Morehead State on Saturday, Samford will be the number six seed and will travel to Morehead, Ky., to face the number three seed Morehead State. If Morehead beats Tech then Samford will be the number five seed and will travel to Richmond, Ky. to face fourth seeded Eastern Kentucky.