Jan. 11, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the second time in nine days, the Samford University basketball team will face off against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Ohio Valley Conference play. Saturday's matchup will begin at 7 p.m., in the Bulldogs' brand-new Pete Hanna Center.

Fans unable to attend the matchup in person can listen to Samford's play-by-play specialist Kevin Henslee call the game live on WVSU 91.1 FM and via the internet at www.al.com/wvsu.

On Jan. 3, Samford (7-8, 4-3 OVC) and Tennessee Tech (6-11, 3-4 OVC) squared off in Cookeville, Tenn., and the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 62-59 victory over the Golden Eagles. Samford's win was only its second road victory in the all-time series between the teams.

Samford heads into Saturday's game looking to rebound from a 55-46 loss to Tennessee State on Thursday.

In the defeat, the Bulldogs shot a season-low 30.2 percent from the floor. Freshman Josh Bedwell tallied game-highs in both points (16) and rebounds (9). In Samford's last three games, the Bulldogs' 6-foot sharpshooter from nearby Hartselle, Ala., is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and 4.2 three-point field goals per contest.

Bedwell has connected on 14 three-point shots in the last three games and is shooting a sizzling 58.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Tennessee Tech heads into tonight's matchup looking to rebound from a devastating 79-74 road loss to Jacksonville State on Thursday.

With the defeat, the Golden Eagles handed the Jacksonville State Gamecocks their first Division I victory of the 2007-08 campaign. Earlier this season, Tennessee Tech was beaten at home by North Carolina Central for their only Division I win. North Carolina Central currently owns a 1-20 record.

Thursday's loss snapped Tennessee Tech's two-game winning streak that featured OVC triumphs against Eastern Kentucky 75-64 and Morehead State 73-55. The Golden Eagles' Anthony Fisher leads the team with an average of 16.4 points per game.

Samford owns a 6-7 record in its all-time series against Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs hold a winning record at home versus the Golden Eagles and are 3-2 when the teams play in Birmingham.

Samford is ranked eighth in the nation in fewest personal fouls per game.

The Bulldogs are only averaging 14.4 fouls per contest and are not far behind the nation's top-ranked team in the category, UCLA, which is only committing an average of 13.8 personal fouls per game.

Samford is also ranked among the nation's leaders in scoring defense and field-goal percentage. The Bulldogs are No. 32 in the country in scoring defense (59.7 ppg) and No. 62 in field-goal percentage (46.0).

The Bulldogs have made at least one 3-point field goal in 486-consecutive games.

The last game in which Samford did not make a 3-point basket was on Jan. 19, 1991, against Texas-San Antonio. The Bulldogs have also made at least two 3-pointers in 455-straight contests dating back to Feb. 8, 1992, when Samford finished 1-of-6 from beyond the arc against Mercer.

UNLV is the national leader in consecutive games with a 3-point field goal as the Running Rebels have made a 3-point basket in 679-straight games dating back to the 1986-87 season. Vanderbilt (677) and Kentucky (661) are the only other two schools that have made at least one 3-point basket since the rule was adopted prior to the 1986 campaign.

In Samford's sophisticated and unique version of the "Princeton Offense", head coach Jimmy Tillette generally prefers to redshirt his players for a season before they begin to see game action as redshirt freshmen. The extra year is beneficial for the players as they use the season to practice with the team and learn the offense.

Heading into this season, Curtis West, the Bulldogs' 6-foot senior from Baton Rouge, La., was the lone returning player on the roster who was not redshirted as a freshman.

This year, Tillette has made it known that he doesn't have any qualms about letting this year's freshman class earn some playing time. The 2007-08 freshman class consists of Bedwell, Josh Davis and Matthew Friday, and both Bedwell and Davis seen significant minutes this season.

Following Samford's matchup against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, the Bulldogs will return to the road Thursday to begin a two-game road swing against the Morehead State Eagles at 6:30 p.m. (CST). Samford will then conclude its road trip Saturday at 6 p.m. (CST) versus Eastern Kentucky.

Samford Basketball Game Notes