Game Notes (PDF)

Date: January 2, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Bolivar, MO 

Bolivar, Mo. - Southwest Baptist (3-1, 3-1 GLVC) returns from break ready to open up the new year at home against Lindenwood who received votes in the latest national poll. Tip-off is set for 3 PM at the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
SBU opened the season 1-1, defeating Missouri S&T and falling to nationally ranked Missouri-St. Louis. In their home opener against Rockhurst, Mitch Ganote had a near triple-double which led the Bearcats to a 91- 83 victory. SBU defeated William Jewell 89-71 on the road just before the break. In the most recent national poll, SBU is just shy of the top 25, receiving 10 votes. The Bearcats rank second in the conference in scoring offense (82.2 points per game) and field goal percentage (52.2%). Mitch Ganote and Tyler Williams rank 3rd and 4th in field goal percentage, shooting 65.2% and 63.6% respectively.

The Bearcats are coming off their best season in program history since 2009-10. Last year, the Bearcats finished 20-9 (13-7 GLVC). In the regular season rankings, the Bearcats finished fourth out of the sixteen GLVC teams. They upset #12 Southern Indiana and #1 Bellarmine both on the road, and defeated Drury at home for the first time in eight years. Eight players return from last year's roster. Second team All-GLVC honoree Brady Smith returns for his senior campaign. Two other starters from last season also return in juniors Quinn Nelson and Joe Miller. Sophomore Mitch Ganote was SBU's sixth man last season, and will play quite a bit during the 2020-21 season. The Bearcats will see several other new faces make an impact as well.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
The Lindenwood Lions (St. Charles, MO) enter the new year with a 4-2 (4-2 GLVC) record, receiving votes in the latest national poll. The 2020 portion of their season got off to a hot start, winning three in a row against Missouri S&T, Maryville, and Quincy. Their first loss of the season came against #18 Truman State, who is now ranked #7. That game was decided by a score of 63-76. Following the loss, the Lions rebounded by upsetting #25 Missouri-St. Louis on the road, 84-72. Most recetly, Lindenwood fell to Drury 84-90. Senior guard TJ Crockett leads the team in scoring and ranks 2nd in the conference, averaging 25.0 points per contest through 6 games. He is also averaging 5.3 boards per game. Romelo Burrell leads the team in rebounding, snagging 7.3 per game.

THE COACHES
SBU head coach Clark Sheehy begins his seventh season on the SBU bench after compiling an 82-92 (45-73 conf.) record while at SBU. Coach Sheehy holds a career coaching record of 264-198 across fifteen seasons while coaching six different All-Americans and over 40 athletes that have moved on to play professional basketball.

Kyle Gerdeman begins just his second season at Lindenwood University. Gerdeman joined the Lions as they transitioned from the MIAA to the GLVC in 2019-20. Last year, Gerdeman led the Lions to a 12-16 (6-14 GLVC) record. Previoiusly, Gerdeman spent 7 seasons at Central Michigan, posting a 121-108 record.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The series is tied 7-7 between these two teams, SBU leading 3-2 in the past 5 matchups. In their lone meeting last season, SBU defeated LWU 84-80 in Bolivar. Joe Miller had an excellent game, scoring 22 points on 9-10 shooting from the field and 4-4 from beyond the arc. Brady Smith also had 17 points, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in that victory.