SBU BEARCATS 98 vs CENTRAL BIBLE COLLEGE SPARTANS 58  recap
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009 • 7:00 PM
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO

#13 SBU BEARCATS 83 at MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS 67  recap
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009 • 7:30 PM
LEGGETT & PLATT CENTER • JOPLIN, MO

#13 SBU BEARCATS (10-2, 1-1 MIAA) vs PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS (5-3, 0-2 MIAA)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009 • 7:30 PM
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
LIVE STATS: www.sidearmstats.com/sbuniv/mbball/

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

SBU NOTES  updated with MSSU game stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The now #13 SBU Bearcats finished their non-conference slate with a rout over  Central Bible College on Monday. The Bearcats dove right back into MIAA action with a victorious trip to Joplin on Wednesday against Missouri Southern, before returning home for Saturday night's contest with Pittsburg State.
   
Matt Rogers returned Monday after missing the last two games. He's averaging 23.8 points a game, which leads the MIAA. Rogers averaged 32 points in the Bearcats' wins at the SBU Thanksgiving Classic. Rogers ranks third in rebounding (7.7 per game), sixth in field goal percentage (60.3%), fifth in free throw percentage (87.5%), fourth in three-point pct. (50%) and first in blocks (4.1) and defensive rebounds (6.2). Junior point guard Tomas Brock has upped his scoring and assists in his second go with the 'Cats, averaging 5.6 assists per game (3rd in MIAA), as well as an 88% free throw pct. (4th). Sophomore guard Tristan Steele has pushed his season average to nearly 11 points per game. As of Thursday, the Bearcats led the league in scoring (94.6 ppg), free throw pct. (79.6%), 3-point FG pct. (431) and blocks (5.3).

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 117-45 (.722) at SBU and is now 335-138 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.
   
CBC is led by Kirk Hanson. The veteran is in his 30th campaign at the Springfield school with a career mark of 654-408. Missouri Southern and Pitt State are guided by veteran leadership. Robert Corn is in his 21st year with the Lions with a career mark of 316-261. Gene Iba announced prior to this season that his 30th season will be his last. Iba has compiled a 257-157 mark in just over 14 seasons at PSU and 483-359 overall.
   
SBU has now won all six games all-time against Central Bible College. The Bearcats now trail the MSSU Lions all-time 41-39, but have won the last eight games, including both last year (105-65 in Bolivar and 102-95 in Joplin). It's also tight between the 'Cats and Gorillas, with PSU leading 26-24. SBU took both last season, 82-76 in Pittsburg and 81-67 in Bolivar.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS, LIONS AND GORILLAS
The NCCAA Central Bible College Spartans had won three straight prior to Monday, taking all three games this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, at the Rose City Invitational. Caleb Willis led the Spartans in two of the three games with 32 and 35 points. Chris Weber led CBC in the other contest with 32 points. Missouri Southern dropped their first game of the season at #2 Central Missouri 78-59. The Lions opened MIAA play with a 84-55 home blasting of Truman. Last year's MIAA Freshman of the Year Jason Adams leads the Lions with 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per night. Skyler Bowlin is second in scoring with 12 points per game, while also handing out 6.7 assists per game.
   
Spencer Magana and Rodney Grace lead the Pitt State team in scoring, with Magana going for 16.8 points per game while Grace checks in at 14.3. PSU spreads the rebounding around with Grace leading at 5.1 game, but four other players averaging four plus boards per game. PSU dropped their first two MIAA games, at home to Missouri Western and on the road at Truman.
    
NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats will break for two-and-a-half weeks before resuming second half action on Wednesday, December 30 in Kirksville against the Truman State Bulldogs. SBU will start off 2010 on Saturday, January 2 by hosting the Hornets of Emporia State.