Jan. 31, 2003

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TIPOFF: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, 7:30 p.m. ET; UCF Arena; Orlando, Fla.

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

SAMFORD: Samford is coming off its largest victory of the season, a 20-point victory at Florida Atlantic, The Bulldogs are 4-4 in the A-Sun and one game behind second place Georgia State in the North division. Samford made 33 straight free throws in over five halves of basketball before missing the front end of a 1-1 against FAU. The Bulldogs were 15-16 from the line at FAU. The Bulldogs were 14-14 against Mercer and 6-6 against Troy State. Samford is 35-36 (97%) from the line over the last three games. The Bulldogs enter this week leading the A-Sun and are 29th in the country in free throw percentage. Phillip Ramelli leads Samford averaging 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Ramelli is 5th in the A-Sun in FG percentage at 59 percent. Head coach Jimmy Tillette is three wins away from becoming the first Samford head coach to reach 100 wins.

UCF: The Golden Knights are coming off their first conference defeat at home 60-58 to Belmont on Thursday. UCF has not dropped two-straight games all season and have a 6-2 conference mark. Ray Abellard leads the team in scoring at 16.1 ppg. He is an 88% (94-107) free throw shooter and he leads the team with 51 made three pointers (51-139, 39%). He was held to just seven points against Belmont but Roberto Morentin tied his career-high with 20 points against the Bruins. Ed Dotson averages 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. He scored 14 against the Bruins. UCF prides itself on defense. The Knights lead the A-Sun in scoring defense giving up just 64.3 ppg and opponents to shoot 42.3 % from the floor. UCF out rebounds its opponents by 5.9 per game and had a 21-0 advantage in 2nd chance points against Belmont.

INSIDE STUFF: The Bulldogs are 16-5 all-time against UCF, however the Golden Knights have won the last two meetings both in Orlando. Samford is 5-4 all-time in Orlando but have won just once in its last four visits to the UCF Arena. Last season the teams split the season series with each team winning at home. UCF eliminated Samford from the A-Sun Tournament in the first round last season.

NEXT: The Bulldogs return home to finish its games against the A-Sun South. The two game home stands opens against Stetson on Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. in Seibert Hall.