Samford University
Middle Tennessee
Bulldogs Lose Shooting Touch In 68-55 Defeat Against Middle Tennessee
11.20.10 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2010
AUBURN, Ala. - Just one day after shooting lights out in a 79-68 victory against Auburn, the Samford University basketball team turned in a lackluster 38.1 percentage from the floor in a 68-55 loss against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday in the Bulldogs' second game of the 2010 Global Sports Hoops Showcase being held at Auburn Arena.
With the loss, Samford (2-2) had its two-game winning streak snapped. Heading into the contest, the Bulldogs were coming off consecutive victories against Tennessee Wesleyan and Auburn. Samford will conclude play in the Global Sports Hoops Showcase on Sunday at 2 p.m. (CST) versus Campbell.
Middle Tennessee (2-2) improved to 3-1 all-time against Samford and bounced back from a 97-90 loss to Campbell on Friday. The Blue Raiders will close out play in the three-day competition Sunday against Auburn at 4:30 p.m.
Samford fell behind early in Saturday's game and Middle Tennessee used a 20-6 run in the opening half to garner a 31-16 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs fought back in the second half and outscored the Blue Raiders 39-37 in the final period, but the damage had been done.
Samford committed a season-high 17 turnovers in the loss, while Middle Tennessee only turned the ball over 12 times. The Bulldogs were outrebounded 39-27, with 15 of the Blue Raiders' boards coming on their offensive end of the court.
Middle Tennessee finished with three players scoring in double figures and was paced by senior guard James Washington who tallied 12 points, four steals, three rebounds and a trio of assists. Middle Tennessee's native of St. Louis, Mo., also knocked down a team-high three 3-point baskets.
Sophomore Jason Jones added 11 points and four rebounds for the Blue Raiders, while Trevor Ottley chipped in with near double-double numbers of 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Bulldogs were led in scoring by redshirt freshman Drew Windler's 15 points. Samford's 6-foot-9 native of South Milwaukee, Wis., tallied his career-high total by shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including a 3-for-3 mark from 3-point range. Windler was also 2-for-2 from the line, grabbed three rebounds and added a steal.
Samford's Gregg Wooten also tallied his career-high in scoring Saturday. The Bulldogs' sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., registered 12 points and 4-of-12 shooting and knocked down a pair of 3-point baskets.
Following Wooten's double-digit scoring performance, Samford was aided by seven points from Josh Davis and five points from true freshman Will Cook.
Midway through the second half, Middle Tennessee used a 3-pointer from Washington and a free throw from Shawn Jones to take its largest lead of the game, 50-31, with 8:38 remaining.
The Bulldogs then used a layup from Windler, a driving score from Gaby Bermudez and four straight free throws from Davis to trim the Blue Raiders' lead to 50-39 with 4:46 left to play. Samford was never able to get any closer than 11 points as Middle Tennessee was able to knock down 12 free throws in the final minutes.
The Blue Raiders shot 41.4 percent from the field in the first half and took a 31-16 lead into the intermission. Samford finished 5-for-16 from the floor in the opening period and went nearly five minutes without a point midway through the half.
Middle Tennessee used a 20-6 run in the first 20 minutes of play to jump out to its quick lead. Following a deep 3-point basket from Windler at the 14:12 mark in the first half, the Bulldogs only trailed the Blue Raiders 10-8. Middle Tennessee then exploded for its 20-6 run to take a 30-14 advantage with less than a minute to play.
The Blue Raiders closed out the opening period with a three-point play from Ottley. Samford scored two points at the buzzer as John Peterson pulled down a rebound and connected on the put-back just as the horn was sounding.
Samford was led in scoring at the half by Windler's six points on 2-for-2 shooting from the field. Cook added four points in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Middle Tennessee was paced offensively by Jones' eight points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Ottley followed with six points, while Kerry Hammonds chipped in with five points and a pair of rebounds.
The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Sunday at 2 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs close out play in the 2010 Global Sports Hoops Showcase against the Campbell Camels at Auburn Arena.
