Jan. 22, 2003

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TIPOFF: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, 7 p.m. Seibert Hall; Birmingham, Ala.

AIR: The game can be heard on WVSU 91.1-FM and the internet at www.samfordsports.com.

SAMFORD: Samford will attempt to win three-straight games for the second time this season after a 74-62 victory over Jacksonville State on Monday. The Bulldogs are now 3-2 in the A-Sun and 4-2 at home this season. Samford had a season-high 38 points in the paint against Georgia State on Saturday and answered with 36 against Jacksonville State on Monday. In the last two games, the Bulldogs have back-cut their way to 32 lay-ups out of 54 total baskets. That is one reason SU has shot 61 percent from the floor in its last two games. Tyson Dorsey has made at least one three-pointer in eight-straight games and Head coach Jimmy Tillette is now four wins away from becoming the first Samford head coach to reach 100 wins.

MERCER: Mercer is coming off an 86-62 non-conference win at UNC Asheville. The Bears are tied for the lead in the A-Sun South with a 10-4 overall record and are 4-1 in conference. The Bears are led by Aleem Muhammad and Scott Emerson who are averaging 15.3 and 14.4 points per game respectively. Emerson is second in the Atlantic Sun in rebounding at 8.9 boards per game. Mercer is third in the A-Sun in rebounding pulling down 38.6 boards per game. Offensively, the Bears are second in the A-Sun in scoring putting up 76.6 points per game. They lead the conference in three-point field goal percentage hitting on 39% of their long range shots. Mercer freshman Donny McLendon is the younger brother of Samford women's basketball player Natalie McLendon

INSIDE STUFF: Tonight marks the 103rd meeting between the Bulldogs and Bears. The only two remaining charter members of the A-Sun, The Bulldogs have faced the Bears more than any other opponent. Mercer holds a 56-46 lead in the series which dates back to 1903. Samford is 27-22 in games played in Birmingham. The Bulldogs have won seven of the last nine in the series including both games last season.

NEXT: Samford will begin a three-game road trip at Troy State on Super Bowl Sunday. Tip-off at Trojan Arena is set for 3 p.m.