Box score | Season stats   Highlights; KSPR 33 | KOLR/KSFX

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The seventh-ranked SBU Bearcats closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule by thumping the Central Bible College Spartans 99-58. The win extended the Bearcats' home court winning streak to 35 games, the second longest active stretch in Division II.

Kurt Koenig led the Bearcats (9-2, 0-1) with 22 points, which tied his career high. Matt Rogers returned from a two-game absence with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Tristan Steele had 12 points and Tremaine Hill and Jacob French each had 10 for SBU. Koenig also had nine rebounds for the 'Cats, while Ryan Dougherty had four assists and four steals to lead SBU.

Against a solid and well-coached CBC team, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, SBU head coach Jeff Guiot said his team needs to work to get better, regardless of the level of the opponent. "We have to build habits and rebound better. We responded well after a slow start. We have to give 100% all the time. When we played harder and smarter, we started playing well."

Guiot also complimented the scrappy Spartan team, which fell to 6-5 on the season. "CBC has a quality team and have to be one of the top teams at that level." On his top scorers, Koenig and Rogers, Guiot said, "Kurt is getting better everyday. He is a very versatile and solid player for us. We need him to rebound better, especially on defense. Matt was a little rusty, but played well after being off a week. He didn't play as smart as he should have but he battled."

The Spartans played with the Bearcats through most of the first half. With the teams tied at 28 with six minutes left in the first half, SBU went on a 15-3 run to close out the half and led 43-31 at the break. SBU led by 22 with fifteen minutes left in the game and by 31 with five minutes left, before their lead swelled to 41 at the final horn.

The Bearcats held the Spartans to 32% shooting in the second half and just 27 points. SBU shot 50% from the field and scored 56 points in the second half.

SBU continues a busy week on Wednesday night in Joplin with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Missouri Southern. SBU hosts Pittsburg State on Saturday night, December 12, at 7:30 p.m. in their final game before a two-and-a-half week break.