BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The #4 SBU Bearcats claimed their third outright MIAA regular season title in the last four years with a 89-67 win over the Missouri Western Griffons. The win was the 30th consecutive for the Bearcats at the Meyer Sports Center and set a new MIAA record with their 17th conference win of the season.

Wendell Mardis led the Bearcats (24-3, 17-3 MIAA) with 22 points. Matt Rogers just missed a triple double with 21 points, 17 boards and 7 blocks. Johnnie Harris had 12 and D'Ante Harris chipped in 10 points and 4 assists. Tomas Brock had 6 assists while Brandon Burgette had 5 assists and 4 steals. Quentin Noblin led Missouri Western (12-15, 9-11 MIAA) with 14 points.

The Bearcats started off hot, scoring the game's first 11 points. They led by 13 points at the twelve minute mark before Western would battle back. The Griffons cut the lead to four (22-18) on a jumper by Dominique Thuston, but SBU would extend the lead, pushing it to 42-26 at the half.

The Bearcats would push their lead in the second to 56-35 with 15 minutes left, before Western would fight back again, using a 20-4 run over five minutes to cut it to 60-55. That was as close as the visitors would get, as the Bearcats would up the score in the final nine minutes to as much as 23 points.

The Bearcats hit 10-of-25 from long range and out-rebounded the Griffons 45-31. SBU, the MIAA's top field goal percentage squad, again shot over 50% for the game and shot 56% in the second half.

Head coach Jeff Guiot reflected on the night and team. "This is a special group of seniors. These guys have dedicated themselves to the program, to each other and the school. I'm happy for them. They're a fun group to coach. Everything you talk to them about, they take it positive."

On winning back-to-back MIAA titles: "This is as tough as it's ever been. We added a quality team to make it 11 quality teams. It's very, very special. It's tough to do once, it's real tough to do twice, and then do it three out of four years -- I don't think anyone could've predicted that."

On his top performers for the night: "Matt (Rogers) will likely be MVP of the league. His presence on the court helps other players. Wendell (Mardis) is getting more minutes and more confidence. He's a weapon that compliments our post players. D'Ante (Harris) has been special all year long and in big games."

Prior to the game, SBU honored the seven Bearcat seniors: Justin Brown, Brandon Burgette, D'Ante Harris, Johnnie Harris, Nick Kovacevich, Wendell Mardis and John Tiemeyer. Brown, Burgette, D. Harris, Kovacevich, Tiemeyer and Rogers join Jim Grabowski as the only players in school history to be a part of two MIAA regular season champions.

The Bearcats became the first MIAA team since Washburn ('03, '04) to win outright back-to-back titles. This was the fourth MIAA regular season championship in school history. The win also concluded a second straight perfect regular season at home. Their Division II-best 30-game home court streak began on February 24, 2007 with a 108-89 win over Emporia State.

SBU earned the top seed in the MIAA Tournament beginning Thursday, March 5 at noon in Kansas City in Municipal Auditorium. They'll take on the same Missouri Western Griffons in a first round tournament matchup.