Jan. 24, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - J. Robert Merritt, a junior forward on the Samford University basketball team, was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Week on Monday as he averaged 18 points per game in leading the Bulldogs to victories over both Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.

The honor, which is awarded to the top player in the conference each week, is the second of the season for Merritt.

Samford's leading scorer at 15.8 points per game was also named the OVC Player of the Week on Nov. 29, after he scored a career-high 30 points against South Alabama. Merritt is the only player in the conference to have earned the distinction twice this season.

Merritt, a native of Oklahoma City, Okla., averaged 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last week in leading Samford to its first 6-0 conference start since the 1998-99 season.

Against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Merritt scored a game-high 24 points and recorded a season-high five 3-point baskets to lead the Bulldogs to a 67-61 come-from-behind victory. He shot 40 percent (8-of-20) from beyond the arc and drilled five consecutive 3-point field goals in the second half.

On Thursday against Morehead State, Merritt tallied 12 points and recorded a season-high four assists on the road in Morehead, Ky., despite suffering a slight foot injury in the first half.

The Bulldogs' forward is averaging 16.8 points per game against conference opponents this season is tied for the team lead in rebounds at 4.2 per game. Merritt is currently ranked eighth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (46.7).

Derek Stribling of Tennessee Tech was named the OVC's Newcomer of the Week, while Tennessee State's Reiley Ervin earned Freshman of the Week honors.

Samford (11-6, 6-0) will next be in action on Thursday as the Bulldogs remain on the road for the third game of its current four-game road trip against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at 8 p.m. The critical OVC contest will be televised live by CSS/Comcast Sports from Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill.