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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University basketball team will open its 2014-15 home slate against the Austin Peay Governors Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs continue play in their early-season schedule with a home-opening contest to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford (0-2) enters the game with a full head of steam after turning in a solid road performance at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
 
With 28 seconds to play, the Bulldogs trimmed the Panthers' lead to 59-56 with a key 3-point basket from senior Tyler Hood. The 3-pointer from the right corner proved to be Hood's sixth deep shot of the game as he finished 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
 
After the Bulldogs cut Pitt's lead to three points, 59-56, Samford fouled the Panthers' Artis Jamel and sent him to the line for a pair of free throws.
 
Jamel knocked down both shots and the Bulldogs took possession at the 14-second mark.  Down the stretch, Samford's Christen Cunningham missed a late 3-pointer, while Pitt's James Robinson added a pair of free throws.
 
Hood led all scorers Sunday with 21 points. The Bulldogs' 6-foot-6 native of Lenoir City, Tennessee, also added a pair of rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.
 
Samford's Michael Bradley turned in is best performance of the young 2014-15 season with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Cunningham, the Bulldogs' true freshman floor general, registered an outstanding all-around game Sunday with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists. He also added two steals and a blocked shot, while going 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
 
Rounding out Samford's scoring were Jamal Shabazz (7), Darius Jones-Gibson (5) and Nnamdi Enechionyia (5).
 
The Bulldogs outrebounded Pitt on Sunday, 33-31, including a decisive 13-7 margin on the offensive end of the court. Six of Samford's 11 players pulled down at least two rebounds against the Panthers.
 
Austin Peay (1-1) heads into Wednesday's non-conference showdown with a bit of positive momentum after earning a 68-63 win over Berea on Sunday. The Govs opened the season with a 77-70 loss at Western Kentucky.
 
Austin Peay boasts three players averaging double figures in scoring this season. Chris Freeman, the Governors' talented 6-foot-6 senior forward, is scoring a team-high 16 points per game this year, as well as grabbing eight rebounds per outing.                                                
 
Additionally, Freeman is shooting 65 percent from the field and is 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Austin Peay's Chris Horton is averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest this season, while junior guard Zavion Williams follows with 10 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
 
The Bulldogs and Governors were both members of the Ohio Valley Conference for five years from 2004-08. During that time, Austin Peay garnered a 9-3 record in the series.
 
All-time, Samford trails the Governors, 15-7, with its last victory occurring last season at home in Birmingham. On Dec. 7, 2013, the Bulldogs earned an 85-63 victory against Austin Peay.
 
At Pitt on Sunday, Samford's Hood drained a career-high six 3-point baskets, five of which came in the second half of play as he nearly rallied the Bulldogs past the homestanding Panthers. Hood finished with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and went 6-of-10 from long range.
 
With such a young team this season, the Bulldogs' senior class comprised of Michael Bradley, Brandon Hayman and Hood will all need to take key leadership roles, both on and off the court.
 
In both of Samford's games to start the 2014-15 season, all three of the Bulldogs' seniors have been listed in the starting lineup. Hayman started at the No. 3 guard position, while Hood was the team's lone forward and Bradley started at center.
 
Samford's Cunningham was named the CRONS Southern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday after he averaged nine points, six rebounds and four assists in road games last week against Purdue and Pittsburgh.
 
In the first game of his collegiate career, Cunningham scored a team-high 10 points at Purdue on Friday. Additionally, the Bulldogs' true freshman point guard pulled down five rebounds and handed out two assists without committing a single turnover.
 
Cunningham continued his poised play at Pittsburgh on Sunday by filling the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. He logged a game-high 36 minutes and finished a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
 
A native of Georgetown, Kentucky, Cunningham concluded the week shooting 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, dishing out eight assists and only committing three turnovers.
 
Following Wednesday's home-opening contest against Austin Peay, the Samford University basketball team will next be in action Saturday at 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs resume play in the 2014 Maui on the Mainland Competition in Little Rock, Arkansas, against the Cal State-Northridge Matadors.

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