Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats (9-9, 6-6 MIAA) defeated the Lincoln Blue Tigers 78-62 tonight at Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.  The Bearcats were lead by junior Ryan Dougherty and sophomore Stephen Cotten.  Dougherty scored a game high 23 points off of 9 of 15 shooting from the field, and Cotten posted SBU's first double-double of the season scoring 11 points and grabbing a career high 14 rebounds.

Along with Dougherty and Cotten, senior Kurt Koenig and freshman Zach Kliene scored in double figures, Koenig with 13 points, and Kliene with 12 points.  Freshman Dalton Kelley received his first start of his collegiate career, and responded well.  "Kelley was solid" head coach Jeff Guiot stated after the game, "he is going to get better and better with time and experience.  Both freshman were very solid tonight on both ends of the court."

SBU will travel to Joplin to face Missouri Southern on Saturday January 29th. Missouri Southern is the top team in the MIAA, and Coach Guiot recognizes that it will be a tough game, but has confidence in his team: "We feel like if we go down there and play smart and consistent, then we have a good shot of going down there and winning."