Jan. 2, 2006

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - The Samford University basketball team's J. Robert Merritt was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Week on Monday as the Bulldogs' senior forward from Oklahoma City, Okla., averaged 18.3 points per game in a trio of victories.

Samford (6-4, 2-1 OVC) closed out the 2005 calendar year with a three-game winning streak over Southeast Missouri, 68-53, Murray State, 61-50, and Campbellsville, 91-56.

After netting 16 and nine points, respectively, in a pair of OVC wins over Southeast Missouri and Murray State, Merritt capped off the effort with a career-high 33 points against Campbellsville.

In the 35-point victory over Campbellsville, Merritt fell one basket shy of tying the OVC record for most consecutive field goals made in a game, connecting on his final 12 attempts out of 13 in the contest, including a 7-of-8 effort from 3-point range.

Merritt shot 58.8 percent from the floor (20-of-34) and went 12-of-19 from beyond the arc (63.2%) in three games. He also grabbed eight rebounds and four steals while dishing out three assists without committing a turnover.

On Monday, Merritt received the third OVC Player of Week honor of his career and the first of the 2005-06 campaign. A year ago, he was one of only four players in the conference to earn a pair of OVC weekly awards.

Southeast Missouri's Roy Booker was named the OVC Newcomer of the Week, while Landon Shipley of Austin Peay earned the Freshman of the Week award.

Ohio Valley Conference
Player of the Week Awards

Jan. 2, 2006
Player - J. Robert Merritt, Samford
Newcomer - Roy Booker, Southeast Missouri
Freshman - Landon Shipley, Austin Peay