GAME 1: SBU BEARCATS (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. #18 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS (0-0, 0-0 LSC)
Desert Oasis HS • November 12, 2010 • Las Vegas, Nev.
7:30 PM (CST) • RADIO: KBFL 99.9 FM

Game Notes (UPADATED) | Live Audio

LAS VEGAS, Nev. --     Southwest Baptist kicks off it's 61st season, with a trip out to Las Vegas, Nev., for the Las Vegas High Desert Classic. SBU will take on two South Central regional opponents on back-to-back days, in Central Oklahoma, and St. Mary's (Texas). All the action can be heard on KBFL 99.9 FM, or streaming online at www.radiospringfield.com.

THE COACHES AND ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU head coach Jeff Guiot prepares for his seventh season on the Bearcat bench, where he has won three MIAA regular season titles, and compiled a 127-54 (.702) record. Coach Guiot has led the 'Cats to an MIAA Tournament appearance each season, and three NCAA Tournament appearnaces. Last season, SBU won 20 games for the third consecutive season, marking the first time in the history of the program the feat has been accomplished.

Now in his ninth year at the helm of the Central Oklahoma men's program is Terry Evans. Evans is 163-76 in eight years at UCO -- including a 74-19 mark the last three seasons -- and has directed the Bronchos to six national tournament appearances, five LSC North Division titles and one overall league crown.

Jim Zeleznak is in his fifth season as the head men's basketball coach at St. Mary's University after serving as the assistant coach to legendary coach Buddy Meyer for 27 years. Zeleznak led the Rattlers to their best record to date as head coach last season. Despite fielding a squad that had just one returning starter, St. Mary's went 17-11 and finished the regular season with a seven game win streak. They finished the season ranked second in the Heartland Conference.

SBU holds a 4-1 advantage over Central Oklahoma, dating back to 1991. SBU has knocked off the Bronchos twice in the Guiot era, a 80-61 win on a neutral floor, and 80-77 in the Meyer Sports Center. The Bearcats have only met with St Mary's once, in 2005-06, a game that they won handily, 92-69.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats hosted a team of SBU alumni for their lone exhibition matchup last week. The current 'Cats won comfortably by a 113-94 margin. Senior forward Kurt Koenig led the Bearcats with 29 points off 12-for-18 shooting. Sophomore Jacob French scored 22, highlighted by his 3-of-4 performance from beyond the arc. Junior guard Ryan Dougherty had 15 points along with a team-high 6 rebounds, and was perfect from the free throw line (6-6).

Robson Memnon, a junior from Nassau, Bahamas, was the leading newcomer for SBU, with nine points and five rebounds. Memnon joins the Bearcats after two successful seasons at Roane State CC. Senior point guard Tomas Brock also had nine, along with six assists and four steals.

QUICK HITS
• SBU returns three starters from last season's 20-11 squad. Of the 85.5 points per game the Bearcats averaged last year, the players coming back for this season made up 56% of the total scoring (48 ppg).

• The Bearcats have won their past two season openers, last year's 86-74 win over St. Leo, and 2008-09's upset over Division I Utah, 80-79. Guiot is 4-2 in season openers at SBU.

• SBU has won 42 of the last 45 games at the Meyer Sports Center, including a streak of 38 straight wins that stretches from 2007-10. Coach Guiot's teams are 69-13 in Bolivar.

• Dating back to the middle of the 2006-07 season, the Bearcats have won their last six regular season neutral-site games. Their last loss came to Henderson State in 2006, during a tournament at Quincy (Ill.).

• Last season, point guard Tomas Brock earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors, averaging 13.2 points per game and 4.7 assists per game.

• Brock put in more time on the floor than anyone else in the league last season, logging a total of 1,015 minutes on the floor (32.7 min/game).

• Senior forward Kurt Koenig is looking to have a breakout year, after averaging 13.3 points per game, the second-highest total on the team. Koenig is also the leading returning rebounder, with 6.0 boards per game last year.

• SBU boasted the highest-scoring offense in the MIAA last season, with 85.5 points per game. Unfortunately the Bearcats also allowed the most points in the conference, giving up 79.9 points per game.

• The Bearcats have just one non-conference loss over the past two seasons, going 16-1 against non-MIAA opponents.