Samford wins basketball exhibition game vs. TN-Wesleyan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Samford University basketball team shook off approximately seven months of rust Monday as the Bulldogs took part in their first competitive action of the 2009-10 season. In its lone preseason exhibition game of the year, Samford streaked to a decisive 85-44 victory against the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs at the Pete Hanna Center.

“We got off to a really slow start and it took us awhile to find our bearings,” said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette. “I thought we shot the ball a lot better in the second half and we ran much better offense. Our younger players got better as the play went on and they looked to be a little more settled in. I didn’t think we played great on the defensive end and we really rebounded the ball poorly.”

Samford finished Monday’s exhibition game with three players scoring in double figures. Senior point guard Trey Montgomery paced the team with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, while junior guard Josh Davis followed with 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist.

“Trey didn’t have his best game tonight, but he does have a spark about him and his spirit helps to lift the team,” Tillette said. “He’s our most verbal guy and we’re definitely counting on him. He has to lead us this season, because he’s been our best guy in practice every day.”

Josh Bedwell, the Bulldogs’ sharpshooter from Hartselle, Ala., ignited the team early in the second half by connecting on three-consecutive 3-point baskets. He finished the game with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in only 18 minutes of play. Bedwell was 4-of-6 from the field, with all of his attempt coming from beyond the arc.

Despite shooting 36.7 percent from the field in the opening period of play, Samford took a 31-18 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs only shot 3-of-18 from 3-point range in the first half, but exploded for a 9-of-16 performance in the final 20 minutes of play.

Samford put the game away with a 17-6 run to open the second half and never trailed by less than 24 points to close out the competition. The Bulldogs took their largest lead of the game with 4:55 remaining to play after Bedwell knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the night to make the score 78-30.

Tennessee Wesleyan was led in scoring by junior point guard Brad Barham. He came off the bench to tally 12 points 4-of-6 shooting from the field. Barham knocked down a team-high three 3-pointers and was the only TWC Bulldog to score in double figures.

Samford limited Tennessee Wesleyan to 28.8 percent shooting and a 25-percent mark from 3-point range.

Sophomore guard Jeffrey Merritt started Monday’s game and finished with nine points, two rebounds, a pair of steals and a block. Senior Bryan Friday and sophomore John Peterson both tallied eight points, while Andy King and Kaylin Johnson added five points apiece.

“I thought that Kaylin and Gregg looked good tonight,” said Tillette. “You can tell that they are still young, but they’re playing with more confidence. I also thought that John Peterson looked very good once he got settled in to the flow of the game.”

Rounding out the scoring for the Bulldogs were Gregg Wooten and Peter Carroll. Wooten finished with four points on 1-for-2 shooting, while Carroll knocked down both of his points from the free-throw line.

The Samford University basketball team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs begin their 2009-10 regular-season schedule on the road against the Kent State Golden Flashes. The matchup will be a part of the three-day, four-team 2009 Hispanic College Fund Classic being held in Kent, Ohio.
(courtesy: Samford Sports Information)