The contest marked the first game of the season for both teams as Samford will face the winner of tonight’s game (second-ranked Texas vs. Southern) on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. PST. The Hornets will take on the loser of Texas-Southern on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. PST.

A steal and subsequent lay-up for Sacramento State’s Alex Bausley put the Hornets on top, 47-46, with 1:12 remaining in the contest. However, Samford answered right back with a back-door lay-up from Curtis West with 50 seconds left. On Sacramento State’s next possession, Bausley was fouled while driving to the lane (0:32), but missed both free throws that would have given the lead back to Sacramento State.

Merritt, who led Samford with 14 points, then knocked down two free throws after being fouled to give the Bulldogs a three-point lead (50-47) with 28 seconds remaining. The Hornets had a chance to tie, but Jason Harris’ three-point attempt (0:11) fell short of the mark, West grabbed the rebound and made two free throws to put the game out of reach (52-47) with nine seconds remaining. Hornet senior DaShawn Freeman converted a lay-up with two seconds left to cap his game-high 18 point night.

After trailing, 24-18, at the break, Sacramento State opened the second half on a 15-3 run to take a Hornet game-high six point lead (33-27) with 14:19 remaining. Freeman knocked three of his career-high tying four three-pointers during the run and Sacramento State led for the next 7:20 before a Merritt three-pointer tied the game at 40-40 with 6:59 to play. Both teams exchanged buckets the rest of the way until Merritt’s free throws gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead with 28 seconds left.

Merritt led Samford in both points (14) and rebounds (eight) while Travis Peterson (11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots) and West (10 points) also chipped in with double figures. Peterson knocked down three three-pointers during the game, which was one three-pointer more than he made all of last season.

Sacramento State, which was whistled for 21 fouls during the contest, limited the Bulldogs to 34.0 percent (18-53) shooting from the field. However, Sacramento State shot 35.3 percent (18-51) and missed five of its final six free throws of the contest (all during the final 6:09 of the game).

Freeman was the only Hornet to score in double figures as the Oakland, Calif., native also had four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Sacramento State, which used all 12 active players during the game, had 10 different players grab at least two rebounds.

In his first game in a Sacramento State uniform, junior point guard Haron Hargrave finished with nine points and four rebounds, and Bausley had eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Harris, who was named by five publications as the Big Sky preseason player of the year, finished with just three points as the senior finished 1-of-9 from the field. Harris averaged 17.5 points per contest last season and was a first team all-Big Sky performer and the league’s newcomer of the year.

Sacramento State continued its struggles early in the season as the team has lost each of its last five season openers. The Hornets have gotten off to slow starts each of the last three years, before finishing the season strong. After tomorrow’s game against either Southern or Texas, Sacramento State will close the week on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 22nd-ranked Nevada.