Nov. 22, 2010

AUBURN, Ala. - Samford basketball players Josh Davis and Jeffrey Merritt were each named to the all-tournament team of the 2010 Global Sports Hoops Showcase on Monday as they helped lead the Bulldogs to the championship title of the four-team, three-day competition hosted by Auburn University at Auburn Arena over the weekend.

Davis, Samford's senior forward from Lubbock, Texas, averaged a team-high 14.7 points per game in the tournament and tied a career-high with 30 points in Friday's 79-68 victory against Auburn. Davis finished the event shooting 65 percent from the field (13-of-20), 62.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-16) and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Merritt, the Bulldogs' junior guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., averaged 7.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game during the 2010 Global Sports Hoops Showcase. Merritt played a team-high 30.7 minutes per contest and scored a team-high 12 points in Samford's thrilling come-from-behind victory against Campbell on Sunday.

Samford (3-2) closed out the four-team, three-day competition with a 2-1 record. The Bulldogs defeated Auburn 79-68 and Campbell 60-56, but lost to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, 68-55.

Middle Tennessee (2-3) could have secured the championship title Sunday with a win against Auburn (1-3), but ended up with a 1-2 record. With its comeback win over Middle Tennessee, Auburn also finished the early-season tournament with a 1-2 mark.

Campbell (2-3), which was defeated by Samford on Sunday, closed out the Global Sports Hoops Showdown with a 2-1 record. The Camels outscored Middle Tennessee 97-90 on Friday and then held off Auburn 61-54 on Saturday. Samford claimed the head-to-head matchup with Campbell, while Auburn garnered a similar advantage with Middle Tennessee.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham for a key early-season matchup against the Jacksonville Dolphins to be held in the Pete Hanna Center.

2010 Global Sports Hoops Showcase
Hosted by Auburn University - Nov. 19-21

TOURNAMENT RECORDS
1. Samford (2-1) - Defeated Auburn, Campbell; Lost to Middle Tennessee
2. Campbell (2-1) - Defeated Middle Tennessee, Auburn; Lost to Samford
3. Auburn (1-2) - Defeated Middle Tennessee; Lost to Samford, Campbell
4. Middle Tennessee (1-2) - Defeated Samford; Lost to Campbell, Auburn

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lorne Merthie, Campbell - MVP
Josh Davis, Samford
Andre Malone, Auburn
Jeffrey Merritt, Samford
James Washington, Middle Tennessee