Nov. 5, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will begin competitive play in its 2008-09 campaign Thursday at 7:30 p.m., as the Bulldogs host the Covenant College Scots in a preseason exhibition game to be held in the Pete Hanna Center.

The contest will be the second game of a season-opening doubleheader which also features Samford's women's exhibition matchup against Montevallo beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Bulldog basketball team will begin its 2008-09 season at Belmont on Nov. 14.

Samford was recently picked to finish sixth in the North Division of the Southern Conference's preseason rankings. The Bulldogs return three starters and an additional five lettermen from last year's squad.

In 2007-08, the Bulldogs concluded the year with a 14-16 overall record and a 10-10 mark against conference opponents. Samford finished Ohio Valley Conference play as the fifth-place team in the league and qualified for postseason play for an unprecedented 15th-consecutive year.

Covenant College heads into Thursday's game with an 0-3 record this season. In their most recent matchup, the Scots dropped an 81-59 decision to Berry College on Monday. Freshman guard J.R. Avery led the Scots with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting and added five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Last year, the Scots finished with a 9-22 overall record and a 5-13 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play.

In last season's exhibition contests, Samford earned a 76-62 victory against Oglethorpe and a 42-33 win versus Lindsey Wilson.

The Samford University basketball team will square off against the Covenant College Scots at 7:30 p.m., in the Pete Hanna Center. The matchup is the Bulldogs' first of two exhibition games this season. On Monday, Samford is scheduled to host Tennessee Wesleyan in its final exhibition contest at 7 p.m.