Dec. 15, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will renew its 91-year-old rivalry with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CST), as the in-state foes are scheduled to square off for the first time in eight years at Coleman Coliseum (15,316) in Tuscaloosa.

Fans unable to attend the game in person can listen live to Samford's broadcast on WVSU 91.1 FM or via the Internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. GameTracker will also be available at SamfordSports.com.

The most recent meeting between Samford (3-6) and Alabama (6-3) took place on Nov. 14, 2001, as the Crimson Tide earned an 83-51 home victory. The Bulldogs' head coach Jimmy Tillette owns a 1-1 all-time record against Alabama. On Dec. 2, 1999, Tillette's squad posted a momentous 79-67 win over the Crimson Tide in Coleman Coliseum.

Samford recently completed a three-game homestand Saturday with a 58-48 triumph against Spring Hill College. The Bulldogs only shot 20.8 percent from 3-point range in the win, but finished with four players scoring in double figures. Senior Trey Montgomery and sophomore Jeffrey Merritt both tallied 12 points against Spring Hill.

Merritt, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-6 sophomore from Oklahoma City, Okla., also tallied game-highs in both rebounds (8) and steals (4). He was 5-for-7 from the field and logged a career-high 38 minutes of playing time.

Montgomery also finished with 12 points and added six rebounds, three assists and a trio of steals. Samford's junior point guard from Destrehan, La., was 4-for-7 from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. Montgomery's two 3-pointers led the team Saturday.

The Bulldogs' Matthew Friday made his first start of the 2009-10 campaign Saturday and registered season-highs in points (8), rebounds (7), assists (5), field goals (4) and minutes (28). His eight points proved to be a career-high total and surpassed his previous mark of seven, which was scored against Spring Hill last season.

Samford's Bryan Friday and Josh Davis both added 11 points. Friday was 5-for-10 from the field and pulled down four rebounds, while Davis was 5-of-15 from the field and grabbed six rebounds.

Davis and Montgomery lead Samford with 11.9 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Merritt is pacing the team on the glass with 5.0 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 44.2 percent as a team with six players shooting 40 percent or better as Merritt's 60.5 percentage leading the way.

Alabama heads into Wednesday's game looking to rebound from a hard-fought 73-65 home loss to fifth-ranked Purdue on Saturday. The Crimson Tide led by as many as 11 points in the first half and 16 points in the game. Purdue outscored Alabama 45-28 in the second half of play to earn the come-from-behind road victory.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Anthony Grant, Alabama has compiled a 4-2 record at home this season. The Crimson Tide's only losses in Coleman Coliseum this year were a 71-67 season-opening setback to Cornell and Saturday's 73-65 loss against fifth-ranked Purdue. Alabama has won three of its previous four games and is averaging 71.9 points per contest.

Mikhail Torrance is leading the Crimson Tide in scoring this season with 15.4 points per game on 52.2 percent shooting with 5.3 assists per game. JaMychal Green trails closely with 14.6 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game and has two double-doubles already this season and nine in his career.

Alabama true freshman Tony Mitchell has had quite the impact for the Crimson Tide, averaging 9.9 points and shooting 57.1 percent through his first nine games.

Samford and Alabama will square off for the first time in eight years Wednesday. The previous meeting between the teams was Nov. 14, 2001, as the Crimson Tide rallied for an 83-51 victory in Tuscaloosa. Two years prior, Samford upset Alabama 79-67 on Dec. 2, 1999, also at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama owns a 27-3 all-time record in the series.

Following its game at Alabama, the Samford University basketball team will next be in action Saturday at 2 p.m., as the Bulldogs return home to the Pete Hanna Center for a non-conference matchup against the Shorter College Hawks.

Samford Basketball Game Notes
GameTracker -Samford at Alabama
Webstreamed Radio Broadcast