Jan. 4, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The first-place Samford University basketball team turned in its best defensive performance of the 2006-07 season Thursday as the Bulldogs limited Tennessee-Martin to a season-low scoring output in a 55-41 Ohio Valley Conference win in Seibert Hall.

With the victory, Samford (8-6, 5-0 OVC) remained undefeated in conference play and improved to 4-0 at home this season. The Bulldogs only allowed Tennessee-Martin (3-13, 1-5 OVC) to score 41 points, a season-best performance.

"We won the game, but we definitely won it ugly," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "I have to give a lot of credit to Tennessee-Martin. I thought that their guys played extremely hard. We also struggled a bit offensively and we definitely didn't play our best. We played well defensively, especially against them, because they have a very physical basketball team."

Samford's 41-point defensive effort Thursday topped its previous season-low performance of 44 points against Murray State, Dec. 21. The Bulldogs held Tennessee-Martin to a 35.7 shooting performance from the field. Samford finished with a 47.7 percent effort from the floor.

The Bulldogs' Joe Ross Merritt led the team with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while both Travis Peterson and Randall Gulina tallied 13. Peterson finished with a team-high five rebounds, while senior Jerry Smith added four assists.

Samford's reserves logged significant minutes Thursday as a total of 10 players earned game action. Redshirt freshmen Jim Griffin, Bryan Friday, Trey Montgomery and Savoy Fraine all saw playing time and Griffin finished with two points and a pair of rebounds.

"I thought that our reserves gave us some solid minutes tonight," Tillette said. "Jim Griffin and Trey Montgomery came in and played with intensity and desire and that's what we need off the bench. They all worked really hard for us and they kept up our defensive pressure."

The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half and took a 26-18 lead into the intermission.

Following a driving layup by Gulina with 2:28 remaining in the opening period, Samford led by 10 points, 26-16. Peterson tallied a team-high nine first-half points and grabbed three rebounds, while Gulina finished the period with eight points and two boards.

Tennessee-Martin's Zerek Knight hit a jumper to start the second half and cut the Bulldogs' lead to 26-20. Samford then went on a 17-9 run and took a decisive 43-29 advantage with 8:32 left in the game.

The Skyhawks were led in scoring by senior center Cleve Woodfork's 13 points. The St. Louis, Mo., native also finished with six rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Tennessee-Martin's Gerald Robinson added nine points and pulled down two boards while Joseph Bailey connected on two 3-pointers for six points.

Samford increased its lead to as many as 17 in the second half, 52-35, and then cruised to its final 55-41 victory.

With Thursday's win, the Bulldogs earned their seventh-straight home victory, dating back to Feb. 14 of last season.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Saturday as the Bulldogs conclude their current three-game homestand against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Saturday's in-state rivalry matchup is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., and will be followed by Samford's women's basketball game versus Jacksonville State at 4 p.m.