Sept. 13, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- - The Samford University basketball team officially released its 2004-05 schedule on Monday as the Athletic Department revealed an itinerary highlighted by 12 home games, non-conference trips to South Bend, Ind., and Hartford, Conn., as well as eight key road contests against Ohio Valley Conference opponents.

"We typically play a challenging non-conference schedule and this schedule definitely fits the bill," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "This year, our schedule is going to be even more difficult for us, because we have such a young basketball team."

The Bulldogs are scheduled to open their 2004-05 campaign with an exhibition contest against the West Alabama Tigers in Seibert Hall on Nov. 8. The teams have not met since the 1980-81 campaign and will renew their rivalry after a 23-year hiatus.

Following its lone preseason game, Samford will take part in the four-team Central Connecticut Tournament held in Hartford, Conn., on Nov. 19-20. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play Cal-St. Fullerton in the opening matchup of the tournament and will meet Colgate of the Patriot League on Nov. 20.

On Nov. 24, Samford travels to Mobile, Ala., for an in-state matchup against the South Alabama Jaguars. The game will be played at the Mitchell Center and is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.

Samford's regular-season home opener will take place on Nov. 27, as the Bulldogs play host to the Louisiana-Monroe Indians at 2 p.m. Then, to continue its brief homestand, the team will face off against IUPUI in Seibert Hall on Nov. 30, in what will be the first matchup between the two schools.

The Bulldogs, who finished the 2003-04 campaign with a 12-16 overall record, will spend a predominant portion of the month of December on the road. Samford opens the month at Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 3, and will continue its road trip by playing five of its next seven contests away from Seibert Hall.

Samford hosts Tennessee-Temple on Dec. 18, and then begins another four-game road trek. During the Christmas Holidays, Samford is scheduled to play at Bradley (Dec. 21), IUPUI (Dec. 28), Notre Dame (Dec. 30) and Jacksonville State (Jan. 4).

The Bulldogs' meeting with Notre Dame will be the first in school history and continues Samford's tradition of playing top-caliber opponents. Last season, the Bulldogs competed on the road against Memphis, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Ohio State.

"The trip up to Notre Dame will be a good experience for our team and we're glad that we were able to tie it into our return game with IUPUI," said Tillette. "We knew that we were already scheduled to play at IUPUI and this was a good way for us to tie in another game on the same trip."

On Jan. 4, Samford begins its second season of OVC play as the Bulldogs open league competition on the road against arch-rival Jacksonville State. Following its matchup with the Gamecocks, Samford returns home for three-consecutive contests versus Tennessee State (Jan. 8), Murray State (Jan. 13) and Tennessee-Martin (Jan. 15).

In the midst of their conference slate, the Bulldogs are scheduled to play four-straight road contests followed by four-game homestand.

Samford will travel to Morehead State (Jan. 20), Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 22), Eastern Illinois (Jan. 27) and Southeast Missouri (Jan. 29) prior to returning to Seibert Hall for matchups against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 3), Austin Peay (Feb. 5), Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 10) and Morehead State (Feb. 12).

Last season, the Bulldogs posted a stellar 9-3 overall record at home, including a perfect 4-0 mark against non-conference opponents.

"We have 12 home games again this season and there are a lot of good opportunities for people to come see us play," Tillette said. "We feel that we have a good balance of teams coming in and it will prepare us for our conference schedule. We play in a very unique environment here at Seibert Hall and it lends itself to our advantage."

Three of Samford's final four games of the season will be played on the road. On Feb. 17, the Bulldogs will square off against Austin Peay, before traveling to Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State for conference matchups on Feb. 19 and 24, respectively.

Samford's final regular-season contest of the year will be held on Feb. 24 versus Jacksonville State. During the 2003-04 season, Samford and Jacksonville State split their annual home-and-home series, with each team winning on their respective home courts.

The OVC Tournament is slated to begin with games at home sites on March 1. The league will then host the semifinals and finals at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn., on March 4 and 5.

The Samford University basketball team will begin competitive play in its 2004-05 season on Monday, Nov. 8, as the Bulldogs host the West Alabama Tigers in an exhibition contest held in Seibert Hall beginning at 7 p.m.

2004-05 SAMFORD UNIVERSITY

Basketball Schedule

DATE, OPPONENT, LOCATION, TIME

Nov. 8, WEST ALABAMA (Exhibition), BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 19, vs. Cal St. Fullerton $, Hartford, Conn., 5:00 p.m.

Nov. 20, vs. Colgate $, Hartford, Conn., 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 24, at South Alabama, Mobile, Ala., 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 27, LOUISIANA-MONROE, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Nov. 30, IUPUI, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 3, at Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, La., 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 9, TENNESSEE-WESLEYAN, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 18, TENNESSEE-TEMPLE, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Dec. 21, at Bradley, Peoria, Ill., 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 28, at IUPUI, Indianapolis, Ind., 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 30, at Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 4, at Jacksonville State*, Jacksonville, Ala., 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8, TENNESSEE STATE*, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Jan. 13, MURRAY STATE*, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 15, TENNESSEE-MARTIN*, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Jan. 20, at Morehead State*, Morehead, Ky., 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22, at Eastern Kentucky*, Richmond, Ky., 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 27, at Eastern Illinois*, Charleston, Ill., 7:35 p.m.

Jan. 29, at Southeast Missouri*, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3, TENNESSEE TECH*, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 5, AUSTIN PEAY*, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Feb. 10, EASTERN KENTUCKY*, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 12, MOREHEAD STATE*, BIRMINGHAM, 2:00 p.m.

Feb. 17, at Austin Peay*, Clarksville, Tenn., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 19, at Tennessee Tech*, Cookeville, Tenn., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 22, JACKSONVILLE STATE*, BIRMINGHAM, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 24, at Tennessee State*, Nashville, Tenn., 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 1, OVC Tournament, Campus Sites, TBA

Mar. 4, OVC Tournament ^, Nashville, Tenn., TBA

Mar. 5, OVC Tournament ^, Nashville, Tenn., TBA

- All start times are Central and subject to change

$ - Central Connecticut Tournament

* - Denotes an Ohio Valley Conference game

^ - Semifinal rounds to be held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center