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Date: February 17, 2018
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Bolivar, Mo. (Meyer Sports Center)

Bolivar, Mo. - Southwest Baptist (12-13, 6-10 MIAA) finishes their home portion of the schedule for the year by hosting Washburn (18-7, 12-4 MIAA) on Senior Day Saturday afternoon.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats carry a 12-13 (6-10 MIAA) record in the 2017-18 season. The Bearcats snapped a four game losing streak Thursday night, defeating Emporia State 78-76 in thrilling fashion. SBU is paced by senior forward Logan Hovey who averages a team high and 3rd best in the MIAA conference 18.6 points per game and 5th best 7.9 rebounds per game. Marlon Alcindor averages 12.4 points per game along with leading the MIAA in free throw percentage at 94.6% . Chris Rossow leads the team in assists with 4.4 a game, and Damian Prgomet chips in 8.2 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. As a team, the Bearcats are scoring 76.7 points per game and shoot a 4th best in the MIAA and 21st best in the NCAA 40.4% from behind the arc while giving up 74.6 points per game on 42.8% shooting from opponents. The 42.8 field goal percentage defense ranks third in the MIAA.

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SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn comes into the game second in the MIAA Conference with a 18-7 (12-4 MIAA) record. Their last time out Emporia State defeated the Ichabods by 68-66 score. Leading the charge for Washburn is two-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, Brady Skeens. Skeens averages a double double with 13.8 points per game and 10.8 rebounds while also blocking 2.4 shots a game. Javion Blake is their top scorer and assister at 14.6 points per game.The Ichabods score the fourth most points in the conference at 77.5 points per game. They allow the third fewest points with 67.0 points per game and have the top ranked field goal percentage defense at 40.4%.

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THE COACHES
SBU head coach Clark Sheehy is in his fourth season on the SBU bench, holding a 48-63 (25-51 MIAA) record while at SBU. Coach Sheehy holds a career coaching record of 229-164 across twelve seasons while coaching six different All-Americans and over 20 athletes that have moved on to play professional basketball. Under Sheehy, SBU has produced two All-MIAA selections.

Brett Ballard is in his first season coaching the Ichabods. Ballard came to Washburn after spending time as a top assistant on Danny Manning's coaching staff that included stops at the University of Tulsa and most recently, Wake Forest University. Ballard has spent previous time as a head coach holds a career coaching record of 47-34. 

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ALL-TIME SERIES
Washburn has won 39 compared to SBU's 17 in the all-time series between the two squads. Both teams last met earlier this season in January with Washburn winning 89-60 over SBU.

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BEARCATS LAST OUTING
(2/15/18) - Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist Men's Basketball Team, losers of four straight coming into tonight's game against Emporia State, was able to get back on the winning side Thursday night with a thrilling 78-76 win over the Hornets. Logan Hovey sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds left on the clock that proved to be the difference. The win improves SBU's record to 12-13 (6-10 MIAA) and ESU goes to 9-17 (4-13 MIAA). 

Hovey led all scorers in the game with 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds. The double double was Hovey's fifth of the season. Hovey shot an efficient 54.5% (6-11) including 40.0% (2-5) from three land, and a perfect 6 for 6 at the foul line. Chris Rossow, whose speed and quickness was electric all night, added 16 points to go along with 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Marlon Alcindor also chipped in 11 points in the winning effort. 

It was a great shooting night for the whole Bearcat squad as they made 56.9% (29-51) of their field goals, 46.7% (7-15) of their long balls, and 81.3% (13-16) of their free throws. SBU had the slight advantage on the boards over the Hornets, 33 to 30. Emporia State scored 36 points in the paint while the Bearcats had 32. Second chance points went in favor of the Bearcats as they scored 10 to Emporia's 7. Finally, SBU held ESU to 41.3% shooting for the game including 34.4% in the second half.

After an early 12-8 Emporia State advantage, SBU came back to tie the game at 14 on a three from Darnell Latham Jr. at the 12:24 mark of the first half. A 11-2 Hornets run forced a timeout from Clark Sheehy. With 5:03 to go in the half, the Hornets still led by nine points, 32-23. However, Rossow ignited the Bearcats with a couple jumpers and assists that resulted in a 12-0 SBU run that swung the advantage back to the Bearcats, 35-32. A three from Hovey with 26 seconds left in the half gave SBU a 38-37 halftime lead. 

At the 17:17 mark of the second half, ESU tied the game back up at 47 never regained the lead. For the next six minutes, SBU held small one to four point leads. That was until a 7-0 spurt capped off by a Kai Woodfall three extended SBU's advantage to 62-53 with 10:15 to go. By 5:39 mark though, the Hornets had reduced the Bearcat lead down to just two, 59-57. Four straight points from Hovey stretched SBU's margin back to six with 3:46 left. With 25 seconds remaining, ESU trailed by only two, 75-73. Rossow then split a pair of free throws, giving the Hornets a chance. Emporia State capitalized as Stephaun Limuel converted a three point play to tie the game at 76. After Rossow missed the potential game tying layup, Woodfall stole the Hornets outlet pass and fed Hovey, who was fouled with 1.2 seconds left. Hovey drained both free throws to send the Bearcats home winners, 78-76.

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ICHABODS LAST OUTING
(2/13/18) - Emporia, Kan. – This time it was not an end of the game buzzer beater, but a first half buzzer beater which proved to be the difference in a 68-66 loss to Emporia State on Tuesday night in an Ichabod loss to Emporia State. The Ichabods will return to action on Saturday continuing their end-of-the-season road trip at Southwest Baptist.
The Ichabods led by four at 55-51 with 7:15 to go in the game after a Brady Skeens layup, but the Hornets came back with an 8-0 run to take a 59-55 lead with 4:35 to go. After a pair of free throws by Tyas Martin cut the lead to two, the Hornets scored the next five to go back up seven with 3:25 to play in the game.
However a four-point play by Cameron Wiggins with 3:11 to go cut the ESU lead to three. Wiggins hit another 3-pointer  and Randall Smith hit a pair of free throws tying the score with 34 seconds to play. After an ESU timeout, they missed a jumper but Hornet rebound and was fouled on the follow putting ESU up 68-66.
The Ichabods (18-7, 12-4 MIAA) inbounded the ball, but a guarded 17 footer missed off the glass as the Hornets held on for the win.
The Ichabods trailed at the half 29-27 after twice building leads of as many as 11 points twice in the frame. Up two at 10-8, the Ichabods used a 9-0 run to go up 19-8 capped by a layup by Brady Skeens, but the Hornets came back with a 6-0 run of their own cutting the lead to five at 19-14 with 8:33 to go.
After a mini 6-0 run by the Ichabods to go back in front at 27-16, the Hornets finished the half on a 13-0 run including a 3-pointer from 30-feet out to go up 29-27. During the Hornet run, the Ichabods were 0-4 from the field with three turnovers while the Hornets were 5 of 7 holding Washburn without a field goal the final 4:28 of the half.
Wiggins led the Ichabods with 16 points and Smith scored 12 as did Martin. Skeens recorded his third straight double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds adding three blocks.
Washburn committed 17 turnovers leading to 18 points for the Hornets and the Ichabods were also 10 of 17 from the free throw line while outrebounding the Hornets 37 to 25.

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