#7 SBU BEARCATS 99 at #2 CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES 115   recap
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009 • 7:30 PM
UCM MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING • WARRENSBURG, MO
LIVE STATS: www.ucmo.edu/athletic/live/mensbb/xlive.htm

#7 SBU BEARCATS (7-2) vs MISSOURI BAPTIST SPARTANS (5-6)
SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 2009 • 7:00 PM • MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
LIVE STATS: www.sidearmstats.com/sbuniv/mbball/

ALL GAMES: RADIO:  KBFL 99.9 FM  (Josh Thompson, play-by-play)
INTERNET AUDIO: www.radiospringfield.com

updated with 12/2 game SBU NOTES | UCM NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The #7 SBU Bearcats will look to rebound at home after falling Wednesday night at the #2 Central Missouri Mules, 115-99. The Bearcats (coaches poll) and Mules (media poll) were the top picks in the MIAA preseason polls. The two squads have also been the dominant teams in the league over the last five years and met last year in the South Central Region final. On Saturday night, SBU will host the Spartans from Missouri Baptist, an NAIA squad from St. Louis.
   
Matt Rogers could be back after missing Wednesday's game at UCM. He's averaging 24.3 points a game, which leads the MIAA. The reigning MIAA Athlete of the Week, Rogers averaged 32 points in the Bearcats' wins at the SBU Thanksgiving Classic last weekend. Rogers ranks fifth in rebounding (7.4 per game), third in field goal percentage (64%), fifth in free throw percentage (86.4%), fourth in three-point percentage (56%) and first in blocks (3.8) and defensive rebounds (6.4). Junior point guard Tomas Brock has upped his scoring and assists in his second go with the 'Cats, averaging 6.3 assists per game (3rd in MIAA), as well as a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st). Sophomore guard Tristan Steele has pushed his season average over 10 points per game with twenty point games against Henderson State and UCM.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Jeff Guiot is in his sixth season with the Bearcats and continues to guide teams to success. He's 114-45 (.717) at SBU and is 332-138 in 16 seasons overall at all divisions. He's never had a losing season in those fifteen years, has won 20 or more games ten times and led teams to a conference title eight times. Guiot has led SBU to MIAA regular season titles in three of the last four years and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
   
Central Missouri is coached by Kim Anderson, who's in his eighth season at UCM. Anderson ranks eighth among active D-II coaches with a .733 winning percentage (163-59). He's taken the Mules to two Final Fours and three MIAA Tournament titles. Missouri Baptist is led by Ray Farrell who's in his fourth year with the Spartans, with a 23-39 mark at the school and 57-93 overall.

After Wednesday's victory, Central Missouri now leads the all-time series with SBU 31-21. SBU won in Bolivar to open the 2008-09 MIAA campaign before the Mules won in Warrensburg in January and then in the NCAA regional final in March, also in Warrensburg. The last win for the Bearcats in Warrensburg came in Guiot's first season ('04-05), a 84-81 late season victory. SBU leads Missouri Baptist all-time 11-1 and won last year 100-70 in Bolivar.

SCOUTING THE MULES AND SPARTANS
The Mules return three starters from last season's Final Four team, including senior forward Sanjay Watts. Watts leads the team with 21.3 points per game (3rd in MIAA), as well as 8.5 rebounds per game (2nd-MIAA). Joining Watts back for the Mules are guard Alex Moosman and forward Tremaine Luellen. Moosman ranks 13th in scoring (14.5 ppg) and third in three-point percentage (64.3%). Luellen is the team's third leading scorer at 9.3 points per game and second leading rebounder (6.0).

The Missouri Baptist Spartans visit Bolivar on Saturday, December 5. The NAIA school went 12-18 last season, and has started out 5-6 this year. The Spartans rank in the top 25 in NAIA Division I in scoring (78.0 ppg), rebounding (30.6 rpg), and steals (7.7 spg). Senior guard Brandon Roberson is fourth in the NAIA, with 20 points per game. LeAndre' Johnson is eighth in the NAIA in free throw percentage.