Dec. 2, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will begin play in its 2009-10 Southern Conference schedule Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs welcome the Elon Phoenix to the Pete Hanna Center for the teams' SoCon opener.

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/groups/wvsu. Live stats will also be available through GameTracker on SamfordSports.com.

Samford (1-5) enters the matchup looking to bounce back from a 74-53 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday. With the defeat, the Bulldogs dropped to 0-5 when playing away from home this season. Samford owns a 1-0 record in the Pete Hanna Center this year after earning a lopsided 68-52 victory against McNeese State on Nov. 23.

Against Texas Tech, the Bulldogs only trailed the Red Raiders 49-43 with 11:52 remaining in the game. Texas Tech then rallied late to score 25 of the final 35 points en route to its 74-53 victory.

Samford's Josh Davis scored a career-high 26 points in the non-conference matchup and finished 9-of-17 from the field and 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Davis, a native of Lubbock, Texas, surpassed his previous personal-best of 23 points, which he tallied against Reinhardt College on Dec. 15, 2007.

Despite Davis' performance, Samford only shot 36.7 percent from the field as a team versus Texas Tech. The Bulldogs are 1-0 at home this season and are eager to return to the Pete Hanna Center where it is connecting on 50 percent of its attempts in 2009-10.

Last season, Samford registered a 10-4 record when playing in the friendly confines of the Pete Hanna Center. At home, the Bulldogs averaged 64.5 points per game and tallied a 47.8 shooting percent from the field (35.8 from 3-point range).

Conversely, Samford was 4-12 on the road last season and scored at an average of 58.5 points per road contest. In 2008-09, the Bulldogs turned in a 45.2 shooting percent from the floor (35.9 from 3-point range) when playing away from home.

Samford's first six opponents this season have a combined 31-10 record. The only team with a losing record that the Bulldogs have faced this year was McNeese State at 2-4.

Thursday's game will determine if Samford can get off to a good start in SoCon play. A win against Elon, their North Division rival, would give the Bulldogs a big boost to open the conference season.

enters the contest with aspirations of snapping its current three-game losing streak. Following a 102-68 win against FDU-Florham on Nov. 20, the Phoenix has lost consecutive games versus Hofstra 70-46, Yale 69-65 and UNC Wilmington 86-56.

Elon's top scorers this year are guards Josh Bonney (15.3 ppg) and Drew Spradlin (11.6 ppg), as well as forward Ada Constantine (11.1 ppg). The Phoenix is averaging 66.7 points per contest, but is allowing 74.7 points per game.

The Bulldogs will square off against the Elon Phoenix for only the third time in school history Thursday. The teams first met last season as they began their annual home-and-home series as members of the SoCon's North Division. Samford owns a 2-0 record in the series after defeating Elon 55-51 on the road and 69-47 at home in Birmingham, Ala.

In only its second season as a member of the SoCon, Samford was predicted to finish third in the conference's North Division. College of Charleston and Western Carolina were tabbed as the favorites to capture the SoCon's divisional titles in 2009-10.

Appalachian State earned the remaining two first-place votes in the North Division and finished with 55 points. Samford (44) was chosen third in the North's preseason rankings while last season's tournament champion, Chattanooga (39), was slotted fourth. Elon and UNC Greensboro were both tied for fifth place with 22 points apiece.

Following Thursday's game against Elon, the Samford basketball team will next be in action Saturday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs continue their opening weekend of SoCon play with another key matchup against the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

The game will be held at the Pete Hanna Center and will be the opening matchup of a Samford basketball doubleheader. The Samford women's basketball team will face Wofford on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Athletic Department and SAAC will be hosting a canned food drive at Saturday's games to benefit the Jimmie Hale Mission. For those who bring at least three cans of food, they will receive half price on an adult ticket or free child's admission. Tickets for the doubleheader are $10 adults and $5 children.

Items needed include: canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned soups, instant potatoes, boxed cereal and rice.

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