Dec. 17, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will complete play in its current 17-day, four-game homestand Saturday at 2 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs welcome the Asbury University Eagles to the Pete Hanna Center (5,000) for a non-conference matchup.

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

Samford (6-4) enters the game looking to build upon its positive momentum after defeating UT Arlington 68-60 on Dec. 11. In the come-from-behind victory, the Bulldogs finished with four players scoring in double figures for the second time this season and improved to 5-0 when at least three Bulldogs score in double figures.

Junior guard Jeffrey Merritt and senior center Andy King paced the team with 13 points apiece, while senior guard Josh Bedwell added 11 and junior forward John Peterson chipped in with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.

Despite trailing UT Arlington by 45-37 with 11:32 to play, Samford used clutch 3-point shooting from Bedwell, Peterson and King to battle back for the 68-60 victory. The Bulldogs outscored the Mavericks 31-15 to close out the game and knocked down seven 3-point baskets in the final 11:20 of play.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 6 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game. Samford is averaging 9.8 3-pointers per contest this season and has tallied at least 12 3-point field goals in a game four times this season. The Bulldogs made 14 3-pointers in their home win against UT Arlington on Dec. 11 and connected on a season-high 18 3-pointers in their 79-68 victory at Auburn on Nov. 19.

Saturday's game will determine if Samford can continue its positive momentum from a 68-60 come-from-behind victory against UT Arlington. Samford has been victorious in three of their previous four games and owns a 3-2 record when playing at home this season. The Bulldogs are 2-1 in their current four-game homestand.

Asbury University (6-5) heads into Saturday's game looking to rebound from a 66-58 home loss to Centre College on Thursday. The hard-fought defeat snapped Asbury's five-game winning streak in which the Eagles were averaging 99 points per game.

This season as a whole, Asbury is averaging 84.9 points per game. The Eagles have scored at least 100 points in four outings and breezed its way to a 121-53 victory against Ohio State-Mansfield on Dec. 4. Asbury's senior guard Phillip Morrison leads the team in scoring with an average of 20.3 points per game. The Eagles' native of Louisville, Ky., also leads the team in field goals (144), 3-point field goals (52) and free throws (53).

Samford will square off against the Asbury University Eagles for the first time in school history Saturday. Asbury University is a member of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and is located in Wilmore, Ky. The school was founded in 1890 and currently boasts a total enrollment of 1,600 students.

A key matchup in Saturday's game will be Samford's stingy defense against Asbury's high-powered offensive attack. The Eagles are averaging 84.9 points per game, while the Bulldogs' defense is only allowing 62.7 points per outing this season. Samford currently leads the Southern Conference in scoring defense and is ranked No. 76 in the nation in the category.

The Bulldogs, who are in the midst of their third season as a member of the SoCon, returned three starters and an additional nine letterwinners from last year's squad. Samford also boasts a pair of talented redshirt freshmen, as well as a trio of highly-touted newcomers. The Bulldogs will be led this season by seniors Bedwell, Gaby Bermudez, Josh Davis and King, as well as talented upperclassmen Matthew Friday, Kaylin Johnson, Jeffrey Merritt and Peterson.

Samford's 2010-11 sophomore class is comprised of guard Gregg Wooten, while the team boasts five freshmen in redshirts Levi Barnes and Drew Windler, as well as incoming freshmen Hamilton Bailey, Will Cook and Tyler Hood.

The Bulldogs are averaging 27.8 points from their reserves this season as Samford regularly capitalizes off its depth by having 11 players earn game action. In 10 games this season, the Bulldogs' bench has outscored their opponents' bench in seven contests, including each of Samford's last six outings. Against Georgia State on Nov. 27, the Bulldogs' reserves scored 43 points in their 70-61 overtime victory.

It is safe to say that Samford's offensive style is unique. While most teams play pressure defense and tend to run the ball up the court, the Bulldogs use patience and precision cutting on offense to get either a back-door layup or a wide open look at a 3-point shot. With that in mind, Samford's offense is hard to prepare for and often poses problems for the opposition's coaches in the league to scout.

Since head coach Jimmy Tillette incorporated the Princeton offense at Samford in 1997, the Bulldogs have reeled off a 81-56 record in games played against teams that have less than three days to prepare.

Following Saturday's home game against Asbury University, the Samford University basketball team will next be in action Monday at 8 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs begin a two-game, pre-Christmas road trip against the USTA Roadrunners at the UTSA Convocation Center (4,080) in San Antonio, Texas.

Samford Basketball Game Notes
GameTracker - Samford vs. Asbury University