March 2, 2004

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. - Phillip Ramelli scored 21 points, but it was not enough, as the Samford men's basketball team fell in its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game by a score of 81-61 at Eastern Kentucky Tuesday night.

"Our guys battled their tails off," Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette said. "We fell behind in the first half, and we battled back in the second half, but, obviously, it was not enough. I thought we defended well, but EKU made some tough shots."

Eastern Kentucky shot 63 percent for the game, including 56 percent from three-point range. The Colonels were 13-for-17 from the free throw line in the second half. Samford shot 47 percent for the game, and 35 percent from three-point range.

In the first half, Eastern Kentucky (14-14) jumped out to a five-point lead at 8-3 with just over 17:00 to play. However, Samford (12-16) went on an 8-0 run from there to take an 11-8 lead with 14:50 to go on a layup by Eddie Harper. The game remained close until, with the score tied, 21-21, EKU went on a 12-0 run to take a 33-21 lead at 4:15 to go. Samford was able to cut the lead to eight at 35-27, but the Colonels scored the last two baskets of the half to take a 39-27 lead into halftime.

In the second half, EKU pushed its lead out to 17 points at 50-33 early in the half. Samford then fought its way back into the game, cutting the lead to six at 54-48 when Ramelli followed his own miss with a basket with 9:18 to go in the game. EKU then increased the lead to 11 again at 59-48. The team's traded baskets until, with EKU leading, 65-54, the Colonels went on a 7-0 run to increase their lead to 18 at 72-54, and the Colonels cruised to the 81-61 win.

Following Ramelli for Samford, fellow senior Tyson Dorsey with 11 points. Freshman guard Jerry Smith added nine points and seven assist for the Bulldogs. J. Robert Merritt led the team in rebounding with nine.

For EKU, Jon Bentley and Matt Witt scored 22 points each. Bentley was 9-for-11 from the floor for the game.