Dec. 6, 2002

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Turnovers and a very hot Southwest Missouri State team sent Samford into the consolation game of the Pizza Hut Classic as SMS defeated Samford 80-49 at the Hammond Student Center Friday night.

Tommy Johnson scored 20 points all in the second half to pace the Bears who improved to 2-2 on the season. Eddie Harper scored 14 points to lead the Bulldogs who drop to 3-2 on the season.

Samford committed 21 turnovers and had its worst shooting night of the season shooting just 5-16 for 31 percent from three point range. The Bulldogs suffered their worse defeat since falling by 32 points at Alabama on Nov. 14, 2001.

SMS made its first eight three pointers of the game and led by as many as 33 points by shooting 54 percent from the floor and a Samford-like 71 percent from 3-point range hitting 12-17 from long range.

SMS went into the break with a 38-24 lead thanks to 100 percent shooting from three-point range hitting all five shots from beyond the arc. The Bears shot 56 percent from the floor and forced 12 Bulldog turnovers in the first half. Samford shot 53 percent from the floor thanks to six back cut lay ups but the Bulldogs went just 2-7 from long range in the opening 20 minutes.

SMS started strong as all five starters scored baskets in the first six minutes to help the Bears jump out to an early 14-5 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run as they began back cutting and J. Robert Merritt hit a three-pointer to pull to within 14-12. The Bears answered with a 10-4 run sparked by five points from Travis Walk and a long three by Terrence McGee.

The Bears started the second half where they left off in the first half. Travis Walk hit a three pointer on his way to a career high 13 points to help SMS on a 9-4 run to force a Bulldog timeout with 15:23 to play and the Bears up 47-28.

Tommy Johnson scored 12 consecutive points in two minutes as SMS went on a 16-0 run to take control of the game and lead by it largest margin of 33 points at 67-34 with 10:39 left to play.

Samford will face Florida International in the consolation game on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. SMS will face Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the championship game at 8:30 p.m.