Nov. 10, 2006

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - In its first-ever game against a top-ranked opponent, the Samford University basketball team never backed down from the Florida Gators, but dropped a hard-fought 79-54 decision against the defending national champions.

The game was the season-opener for both squads and was held in front of 11,798 fans at the O'Connell Center.

"I thought that our team fought hard against a very good team tonight," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "Florida is the defending national champ for a reason and this is a very tough place to play. I saw a lot of good things from our team tonight and we just need to build on the positives and try to limit the negatives."

Samford (0-1) finished with three players scoring in double figures in Randall Gulina, Joe Ross Merritt and Travis Peterson.

Merritt shot 7-of-9 from the floor and finished with a team-high 17 points. Gulina scored the Bulldogs' first five points of the game and finished with 16. Peterson knocked down a trio of 3-point baskets and finished with 11.

Florida (1-0) was led by Corey Brewer with 19 points. Joakim Noah posted a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Al Horford and Taurean Green scored 15 points apiece for the Gators.

With the score of the game tied at five, Florida went on a 13-0 run to take an 18-5 lead with 14:51 to go in the first half. Samford cut the lead to nine at 21-12, but Florida answered with a 10-2 run to take a 31-14 lead.

At halftime, Samford trailed the Gators, 39-23.

Merritt and Peterson both scored nine points in the opening half of play, with the pair combining for four of Samford's five first-half 3-pointers. Gulina added five points for the Bulldogs in the opening 20 minutes of play.

In the second half, Florida pushed its lead to 20 early on at 47-27. The Gators pushed the lead to as much as 33 at 73-40, and eventually came away with the 79-54 win.

Samford's Jerry Smith tallied a team-high five assists and grabbed four rebounds, while freshman Jim Griffin finished with three points and junior Curtis West added two.

The Bulldogs shot 40.4 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Tuesday as the Bulldogs welcome the Tennessee Temple Crusaders to Seibert Hall for a 7 p.m., matchup. The contest will be Samford's 2006-07 home opener.