Nov. 17, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team turned in a sizzling shooting performance from beyond the arc Monday as the Bulldogs cruised to a 72-52 victory in their 2008-09 home-opener at the Pete Hanna Center. In the win, Samford shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) from 3-point range.

"We really got off to a great start and that was something we've been talking about a lot," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. "We want to play better at home this season and tonight was definitely a good step in the right direction. I also thought that we improved in a lot of areas and we eliminated a lot of our mistakes from last game."

In the victory, Samford (1-1) was led in scoring by sophomore guards Josh Bedwell and Josh Davis. The pair combined for 36 of the team's 72 points and knocked down 10 three-point baskets. Collectively, Bedwell and Davis attempted 12 shots from beyond the arc and made 10 for a phenomenal 83.3 shooting percentage.

Bedwell paced the Bulldogs with a career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. Samford's 6-foot sharpshooter from Hartselle, Ala., was also 7-of-8 from 3-point range. Bedwell's performance from beyond the arc was the best of his collegiate career.

"I felt really good out there tonight," said Bedwell. "Before the game, I got here very early and was working on my shot a little bit, because I felt that I didn't shoot the ball that well against Belmont. This was one of my best games and I was glad that I could help the team win."

Bedwell knocked down his first seven 3-pointers of Monday's contest and Davis made the first three of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Davis, Samford's 6-foot-4 guard from Lubbock, Texas, finished with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and turned in a 3-of-4 outing from long range. He also grabbed four rebounds and handed out a pair of assists.

"I can't take any credit for their (Josh Bedwell and Josh Davis) shooting ability," said Tillette. "The other coaches won't let me anywhere near them in practice. No, we recruited them because they are outstanding shooters and tonight they were great. I don't know if they'll be able to shoot like this every night, but they can definitely shoot the basketball."

Spring Hill (2-2) finished the game with two players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Jeremy Price led the Badgers with 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field, while junior guard Marcus Coleman scored 10 points on a 4-of-12 performance from the floor.

Coleman, who was Spring Hill's leading scorer heading into Monday's game, was limited below his 18 points per contest average.

"Spring Hill had some big talented guys and their guards were pretty quick and could shoot," Tillette said. "They really played their hearts out and at times our team got lost a bit with some different personnel changes, but I thought that we ended the game with great energy and we challenged every one of their shots."

Samford jumped out to an early 24-6 lead in the game and held a 40-18 advantage at the half. Bedwell scored 20 points in the opening period on a 7-for-7 performance from the field. He was also a perfect 6-of-6 from 3-points range.

In the second half, the Bulldogs continued their stellar shooting and didn't lead by any fewer than 18 points in the period. Samford turned in an above-average 48.4 shooting performance in the first half, but followed that up with a blistering 55.6 percent outing in the final stanza.

Samford's Matthew Friday turned in the best collegiate game of his career Monday.

The Bulldogs' physical 6-foot-8 center earned his first start of the season and nearly registered a double-double. Friday, a redshirt freshman from Grapevine, Texas, finished the non-conference matchup with 12 rebounds, seven points, five assists and three steals in 27 minutes of play.

"Matthew had a great game for us," said Tillette. "I thought he was outstanding and he takes up a lot of space on the defensive end as well. He plays very well under pressure and that says a lot because this was only his second game. He's only a redshirt freshman and I think that he has a really good chance to be a great player for us."

The Bulldogs' Trey Montgomery recorded seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, while Matthew's older brother, Bryan Friday, added six points for the Bulldogs.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Thursday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs welcome the Campbellsville Tigers to the Pete Hanna Center for a non-conference matchup. Thursday's contest will be Samford's second of its current three-game homestand.