Nov. 6, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will hold its annual Blue-White Scrimmage on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., announced head coach Jimmy Tillette. The simulated game action is open to the public and free of charge. The players will also stick around after the game to sign autographs.

The men's and women's basketball scrimmages will be the opening events of Saturday's 2009 Homecoming festivities and are scheduled to last until 12:30 p.m.

Samford's 2009 Blue-White Scrimmage will be the Bulldogs' first public appearance of the season. Last year, the Bulldogs concluded the season with a 16-16 overall record and a 9-11 mark against conference opponents. Samford finished its inaugural season in the SoCon as the third-place team in the North Division and qualified for postseason play for an unprecedented 16th-consecutive year.

At the 2009 SoCon Tournament, the Bulldogs knocked off Furman and The Citadel to advance all the way to the semifinal round of the competitive 12-team tournament. Samford ended up losing to eventual-champion Chattanooga at The McKenzie Arena in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn.

Samford will be led this season by fifth-year seniors Bryan Friday and Trey Montgomery, as well as talented upperclassmen Josh Bedwell, Gaby Bermudez, Peter Carroll, Josh Davis and Andy King.

Friday heads into the 2009-10 campaign as the team's top returning scorer. The Bulldogs' native of Grapevine, Texas, led the team in scoring last season with an average of 12.5 points per game. He started in all 32 of the team's contests and also averaged 3.5 rebounds per game.

Montgomery, who will be a three-year starter at the point guard position this year, led the team with 30.4 minutes played per contest in 2008-09. He also led the Bulldogs in rebounding (4.4 rpg), field-goal percentage (51.2), assists (80) and steals (45). A native of Destrehan, La., Montgomery finished the campaign ranked second on the team with 11.6 points per game.

The Bulldogs' junior class consisting of Bedwell, Bermudez, Davis and King will also play a key role is Samford's success this season.

Samford's 2009-10 sophomore class is comprised of Matthew Friday, Kaylin Johnson, Jeffrey Merritt and John Peterson. All four players earned playing time as freshmen last year.

New to the team this season are true freshmen Levi Barnes (6-10, 210, C), Drew Windler (6-9, 185, C) and Gregg Wooten (6-2, 190, G).

Samford's Homecoming athletic events begin Saturday at 10 a.m., with the women's basketball Red-Blue Scrimmage, followed by the women's inaugural Alumni Game, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., the men's basketball team will take to the court for its 2009 Blue-White Scrimmage.

Headlining Saturday's Homecoming festivities will be Samford's key Southern Conference football game against Georgia Southern at 2:30 p.m., in Seibert Stadium. Following the football game, Samford's volleyball team will play host to Appalachian State at 7 p.m., in the Pete Hanna Center.

Saturday's Homecoming Festivities
Athletic Events

10 a.m. - Women's Basketball Red-Blue Scrimmage
11 a.m. - Women's Basketball Alumni Game
11:30 a.m. - Men's Basketball Blue-White Scrimmage
2:30 p.m. - Football vs. Georgia Southern (Homecoming)
7 p.m. - Volleyball vs. Appalachian State