BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford basketball team will compete under the direction of Head Coach Bennie Seltzer for the first time in regular-season play Friday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs travel to Clarksville, Tenn., for a key non-conference contest against the Austin Peay Governors to be held at the Dunn Center (7,875).
 
The game can be heard locally on 97.3 FM The Zone.
 
Friday's matchup will mark the official beginning of The Seltzer Era as the Bulldogs' first-year head coach will be on the sideline for his inaugural game as Samford's 27th men's basketball coach in school history.
 
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs held their lone exhibition contest of the 2012-13 campaign and cruised to an 87-59 home victory against cross-town foe Miles College.
 
In the win, Samford's Tyler Hood led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, while Raijon Kelly chipped in with 19 points and a game-high five 3-point baskets. The Bulldogs' true freshman forward Tim Williams registered an impressive double-double against Miles College with 15 points and 11 rebounds in only 25 minutes of playing time.
 
Samford's 2012-13 roster is not only one of the youngest in the Southern Conference, but one of the youngest in the nation as well. A total of nine of the Bulldogs' 14 players are underclassmen this season, and Samford is just one of two teams in the SoCon that doesn't have a single senior on its roster.
 
The 2012-13 Bulldogs are comprised of five juniors: Levi Barnes (C), Will Cook (G), Gregg Wooten (G), Hamilton Bailey (G) and Tony Thompson (G). Samford boasts a talented sophomore class this season in Brandon Hayman (G), Connor Miller (G), Kelly (G) and Hood (F). Last season, Samford's Kelly and Hood were both named to the prestigious SoCon All-Freshman Team.
 
Despite last year's successful freshman class, the Bulldogs' 2012-13 incoming freshman class might be just as good, if not better. This year's talented freshman class includes Russell Wilson (PG), Clide Geffrard, Jr. (F), Mike Fitzpatrick (G), Jaylen Beckham (PG) and Williams (F).
 
Austin Peay recently opened competitive play in its 2012-13 season Saturday with a home exhibition game against Central Missouri. The Governors were tied at the half, 35-35, but rallied to earn a 75-66 triumph. Austin Peay was led in scoring by fowards Will Triggs and Anthony Campbell, who both finished with 17 points. Chris Freeman added 16 points and eight rebounds.
 
The rivalry between Samford and Austin Peay began in 1972 as the Bulldogs dropped a 98-75 decision on the road in Clarksville, Tenn. The series really heated up in 2003-04 when Samford joined the Ohio Valley Conference. As conference foes from 2003-08, the Bulldogs compiled a 3-9 record against APSU, including a winless 0-5 mark when playing at the Dunn Center.
 
Samford's Seltzer returned home to his birthplace of Birmingham, Ala., on April 5, 2012, as he was named the Bulldogs' 27th men's basketball coach in school history. Seltzer played at Parker High School and went on to star collegiately at Washington State. Throughout his coaching career, he has been a key assistant at Indiana, Marquette and Oklahoma.
 
With Samford's new up-tempo offense and trapping defensive mindset, Seltzer realizes that there will always be a need for quickness, agility and speed on his roster. The Bulldogs' 2012-13 squad boasts 10 guards, including three point guards out of its 14-man roster. The only non-guards on this season's team are forwards Clide Geffrard, Jr., and Tim Williams, as well as 6-foot-10 center Levi Barnes.
 
Samford fans will notice a huge change in the Bulldogs' offensive attack this season. For the last 14 years, Samford perennially ran its version of the Princeton offense under former Head Coach Jimmy Tillette. This season, the Bulldogs will deploy an entirely different offensive theory as Seltzer plans to utilize fast breaks, pick and rolls and slashing cuts to the basket.
 
Following Friday's season-opening contest at Austin Peay, the Samford University basketball team will next be in action Monday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs open their 2012-13 home schedule against the Martin Methodist Redhawks at the Pete Hanna Center.