Jan. 24, 2009

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - In its 1,000th game as a Division I program, the Samford University basketball team knocked down 13 three-point baskets and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc in a 76-61 road victory against the UNC Greensboro Spartans. With their second-straight road triumph, Samford extended its winning streak to four games.

Samford (10-8, 5-4 Southern Conference) turned in its second best 3-point shooting performance of the season and used a 17-5 run to open the second half. Junior Bryan Friday led all scorers with 20 points and 7-of-13 shooting from the field, while sophomore Josh Bedwell added 19 for the Bulldogs.

Bedwell helped lead Samford's shooting barrage with four baskets from long range. Sophomores Andy King and Josh Davis both added three 3-pointers as well. King finished with 11 points and four rebounds, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.

Davis added 13 points and was 4-for-10 from the floor.

UNC Greensboro (3-14, 2-6 SoCon) fell to 1-6 when playing at home and only shot 14.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Spartans finished the game with two 3-point baskets.

UNC Greensboro's top performer was Ben Stywall. The Spartans' 6-foot-5 junior tallied a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end of the floor.

Samford made seven 3-point baskets in the first half and led UNC Greensboro 33-27 at the intermission. The Bulldogs shot 43.8 percent from beyond the arc in the opening period and connected on seven of their 16 attempts from 3-point range. Conversely, the Spartans finished the first half 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Samford's Bedwell and Davis both scored eight points in the opening 20 minutes of play. Bedwell turned in a 3-for-5 performance from the field and knocked down a pair of 3-point baskets. Davis also connected on a pair of threes and added two free throws.

The teams played a clean first half and only eight turnovers were committed in the first 20 minutes of action, each team tallied four miscues.

UNC Greensboro's Damian Eargle led all scorers with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. He also snapped an 0-for-7 streak from the free-throw line with three from the charity stripe in the first half.

The teams were tied at 17-17 with 7:32 remaining in the opening period when Samford used a quick 11-2 run to take a 28-19 advantage at the three-minute mark. During the Bulldogs' streak, Trey Montgomery slashed to the goal and scored on a back-door layup, while Andy King, Davis and Bedwell made consecutive 3-pointers.

Samford was out-rebounded 20-13 in the first half and UNC Greensboro's Stywall finished with 10 boards in the opening period.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Monday at 7:30 p.m., as the Bulldogs return home to the Pete Hanna Center for a pivotal SoCon matchup against The Citadel Bulldogs. Monday's contest will be the nightcap of a Samford basketball doubleheader, which will follow the women's team's game against Wofford.