Jan. 28, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will play in its second game of its current three-game homestand Thursday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs welcome the Georgia Southern Eagles to the Pete Hanna Center for the teams' second Southern Conference meeting of the 2008-09 campaign.

Earlier this season, Samford (10-9, 5-5 SoCon) dropped a 66-59 decision to Georgia Southern (7-10, 5-4 SoCon) in Statesboro, Ga., on Dec. 6.

Fans unable to attend Thursday's matchup in person can listen live to Samford's broadcast on WVSU 91.1 FM or via the Internet at www.samford.edu/groups/wvsu.

The Bulldogs enter the game with a vile taste in their mouths after suffering a 70-45 loss to The Citadel on Monday. The defeat snapped Samford's four-game winning streak and was its worst loss in Pete Hanna Center history.

Prior to Monday's setback, the Bulldogs compiled consecutive SoCon victories against Western Carolina, Appalachian State, Elon and UNC Greensboro. Georgia Southern heads into Thursday's matchup with aspirations of extending its current two-game winning streak. The Eagles are the fourth-place team in the SoCon's South Division and are coming off back-to-back wins against Wofford 74-53 and Furman 69-53.

Georgia Southern has played significantly better at home this season (5-2 record) and is only 1-7 when playing on the road.

Samford will attempt to snap a five-game losing streak to Georgia Southern on Thursday.

The Eagles have won 14 of the previous 15 games in the series with the Bulldogs' lone win during the last 20 years occurring Feb. 2, 1991 in Birmingham, Ala., 75-72. Georgia Southern owns a 31-14 all-time advantage in the series, including a 66-59 victory earlier this season.

In the previous matchup between the teams, the Bulldogs went 0-for-8 from the free-throw line in the second half in what was their first SoCon game in school history. Samford led by as many as eight points, 48-40, with 11:37 remaining before Georgia Southern exploded for a 16-2 run and earned a 58-50 lead at the 3:36 mark.

The Eagles' late comeback was sparked by seven points from junior guard Julian Allen.

Allen, Georgia Southern's 6-foot-4 native of Waterbury, Conn., paced his team with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Antoine Johnson followed with 10 points and was 5-of-7 from the floor.

Samford was led in scoring by both Trey Montgomery and Bryan Friday. The Bulldogs' juniors each finished with 16 points apiece and knocked down seven baskets. Montgomery was 7-for-14 from the field, while Friday was 7-for-12. For the fourth-straight game, Montgomery led the team in rebounding with seven.

The Bulldogs are ranked first in the SoCon in scoring defense and are also ranked among the top-five teams in the league in an additional nine categories.

Samford is only allowing opponents to score 62.3 points per game and is also the second-ranked squad in field-goal percentage (45.9). The Bulldogs are ranked third in both rebounding defense (33.1 pg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.0), and are also fourth in both field-goal percentage defense (44.1) and 3-point field-goal percentage (35.2).

Additionally, Samford is ranked fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (35.1), turnover margin (+0.3) and 3-point field goals made per game (7.7).

Individually, Samford boasts the top-ranked 3-point shooter in the conference in Montgomery. The Bulldogs' high-flying guard from Destrehan, La., leads the league in 3-point shooting with a 47.6 percentage, while sophomore Andy King is ranked sixth in the category at 43.2 percent and Josh Davis is 13th with a 39.1 mark.

Since 2001, there has been at least one Merritt brother listed on Samford's roster.

In 2001, J. Robert Merritt joined the Bulldogs as a freshman and went on to become the school's seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,584 points. Samford's former great was also the school's first All-American and is still the Bulldogs' leader in 3-pointers made in a career (311).

In 2003, Joe Ross Merritt came to Samford as a freshman and played three seasons with J. Robert. Joe Ross also proved to be one of the top players in school history and finished his career as the Bulldogs' all-time leader in games played with 121. Joe Ross graduated following the 2007-08 campaign, and now there is a new Merritt to wear his No. 5 jersey.

Joining the Bulldogs this season is freshman Jeffrey Merritt. Samford's 6-foot-6 guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., is a valued addition to the team and will keep the Samford-Merritt tradition alive until at least 2012.

Following Thursday's game against Georgia Southern, Samford will next be in action Saturday at 2 p.m., as the Bulldogs host the first-place Davidson Wildcats to the Pete Hanna Center in a televised matchup to be broadcast by SportSouth.

Fans are encouraged to wear white to Saturday's game against Davidson as the Bulldogs attempt to White-Out the Wildcats.

Samford Basketball Game Notes