#11 SBU BEARCATS (14-2, 5-1 MIAA) at #10 FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS (12-1, 6-0 MIAA)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010 • 4:00 PM
HAYS, KS • GROSS MEMORIAL COLISEUM
LIVE STATS: web.fhsu.edu/athletics/livestats/mbasketball/xlive.htm
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SBU NOTES | FHSU NOTES

HAYS, Kan. -- The #11 SBU Bearcats will travel to Fort Hays State Saturday in a battle of league leaders. SBU is currently in a three-way tie for second with Central Missouri and Nebraska-Omaha (who also play each other Saturday). With their win Tuesday over Washburn, SBU extended their home court winning streak to 38 games (second longest in Division II), which begain in February 2007 with a 108-89 victory over Emporia State. While the Bearcats are 8-0 at home this season, they are 6-2 away from the Meyer Sports Center, with their only losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents (UCM and Drury).
   
National Player of the Year candidate Matt Rogers is the center of focus for the Bearcats and their opponents, averaging 22.9 points per game, the most in the MIAA and tenth in the country. Rogers is also fourth on the rebounding list, with 7.6 boards every contest. With 56 blocks on the year, Rogers is fourth nationally (4.0 bpg), and has 37 more blocks than anyone else in the league. Rogers is also among the MIAA leaders in field goal percentage (56.7% - 4th), free throw percentage (84% - 7th), and defensive rebounds (6.2 rpg - 2nd). Junior point guard Tomas Brock is third in the MIAA in assists per game (5.1), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) and fifth in free throw percentage (84.1%).
    
Tristan Steele has led the Bearcats in scoring in three conference matchups this season, tallying 24 points at UCM, 22 points against Pitt State and 21 versus Washburn. Steele has a team-high 34 three-pointers on the season, and is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game as well. Another player who has stepped up during the last month is junior forward Kurt Koenig. The Minnesota native is averaging 13.4 points per game (16th in MIAA), 4.9 rebounds per night and is hitting 46% from three-point range.
   
As a team the Bearcats are 10th nationally in scoring, 7th in three-point percentage and 8th in free-throw percentage. SBU also leads the MIAA in scoring (89.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (77.7%) while trailing FHSU in trey percentage (42.7% to 41.3%). They've held three straight opponents to 62 points and have won seven straight over the last month.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU head coach Jeff Guiot is in his sixth season in Bolivar, where he has led the Bearcats to a 121-45 (.728) record. Guiot has a 339-138 record overall, and has yet to suffer a losing season during his fifteen-year career. Guiot has won 20 games ten times, as well as eight conference titles, including three of the last four MIAA regular season championships while at SBU.
   
Mark Johnson, head coach of the Tigers, is in his ninth season and has a record of 170-76 (.691). The Tigers have four 20-win seasons under Johnson and he has led them to three NCAA tournament appearances. Their last NCAA appearance came in 2007-08.
   
SBU leads the all-time series 5-2, with Fort Hays State having been an MIAA member for just the last three seasons. SBU won both meetings last year, 84-64 in Bolivar and an 86-84 thriller in Hays. The Tigers' 74-64 win on February 12, 2007 was the last loss for the Bearcats in Bolivar.
   
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The #10 Fort Hays State Tigers made a statement Monday night with 81-71 win at #1 Central Missouri. The Tigers now lead the MIAA with 6-0 start. The Tigers boast the best defense in the league, allowing only 57.7 points per game, and have the widest average margin of victory, outscoring their opponents by 22.3 points per game. Although they don't take as many three-pointers as most teams in the MIAA, Fort Hays leads the league in accuracy, shooting at a 42.7% clip behind the arc. Dominique Jones leads the team in scoring, with 13.6 points per game while coming off the bench recently. Jones is also the top MIAA three-point shooter by percentage, making 51% of his long range attempts. Corbin Kuntzsch is averaging 7.1 rebounds, 5th-most in the MIAA. Willie Hassell is tied for 8th in assists (3.8 per game) and is tied with Jones for 4th in the MIAA in steals (1.9). The Tigers' senior forward Tim Peintner suffered a high ankle sprain against Washburn on Dec. 30 and has missed the last two games. Peintner averages 9.5 points per game.
        
NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
Another recent addition to the MIAA, the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, visits the Meyer Sports Center on Thursday, January 14. The Mavs are tied with SBU and UCM currently for second place in the league behind Fort Hays. Guard Tyler Bullock is sixth in the MIAA in scoring at 16.6 points per game and is third in free throw percentage (85.9%). Dion Curry (13.0 ppg - 17th) and Jeff Martin (12.5 ppg - tied 20th) are also among the league leaders. Eugene Bain is seventh in rebounds (6.9). Curry (60.6% - 2nd) and Bullock are among the top field goal percentage players in the MIAA. Andrew Bridger leads the MIAA in assists (6.7) and is fourth in free throw percentage (85.1%). Martin is third in the MIAA in threes made (2.9). The Mavs are the third best scoring team (85.9 ppg) and top field goal shooting percentage squad (51.3%). SBU and UNO split their meetings last season, with each team winning their home game.