Samford University claims first basketball win of season, defeating Tennessee Wesleyan 57-54

Special for The News

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Samford earned its first win of the young college basketball season in its home opener Monday night, but it was tougher than expected.

Samford needed senior guard Josh Bedwell's two free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining to turn back NAIA Division II Tennessee Wesleyan 57-54 at the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford (1-1) won despite shooting only 34.6 percent from the field (18-of-52). Tennessee Wesleyan was even colder, shooting 32.8 percent (20-of-61).

"We didn't shoot it well, but we played hard," Samford coach Jimmy Tillette said. "If we had played with the same kind of effort Friday night (in a 64-61 loss at Youngstown State), we would have won.

"We worked hard in practice. We practiced before the game. The effort has to be first base. The execution will come."

Bedwell led Samford with 14 points, sinking 4-of-9 3-pointers. Junior guard Jeffrey Merritt registered his second consecutive double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Redshirt freshman Drew Windler, a lanky 6-foot-9 center from South Milwaukee, Wisc., added 12 points, making each of his four 3-pointers in his first collegiate start.

Sophomore guard E'Jay Ward led Tennessee Wesleyan (3-2) with 16 points on the strength of four 3-pointers. He also had eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Freshman guard Dylan Powers was 5-of-8 from 3-point range and finished with 15 points, all in the first half. Matt Harper chipped in with 10 points.

The game evolved into a 3-point shootout with the teams combining to launch 63 attempts from beyond the arc. Samford was a little more on target, making 12-of-30 treys (40 percent) compared to 11-of-33 (33.3 percent) for Tennessee Wesleyan.

Samford led 30-26 at halftime thanks to Windler's 12 first-half points.

"He's going to be good," Tillette said. "I took him out there at the end because he looked a little confused."

Samford opened the second half with a 14-4 run in the first 11 1/2 minutes to increase its advantage to 44-30.

Tennessee Wesleyan clawed back to tie the score 46-46 on Harper's 3-pointer with 2:33 remaining.

Bedwell's 3-pointer with 2:11 left snapped the tie and began a 7-0 spurt that gave Samford a 53-46 with 35 seconds remaining.

Ward scored eight quick points, including two long 3-pointers, in the next 30 seconds to pull Tennessee Wesleyan within 55-54 before Bedwell's two free throws sealed it.

"We're definitely a work in progress," Tillette said. "We need to work on a lot of things, but I saw improvement."

Samford travels to Auburn Friday to play in the Global Sports Hoops Showcase. Samford will play Auburn at 7 p.m. Friday, Middle Tennessee State at 2 p.m. Saturday and Campbell at 2 p.m. Sunday.

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