Game Notes (PDF)

Date: January 26, 2021
Time: 6:05 PM
Location: Springfield, MO 

Bolivar, Mo. - The Bearcats (9-2, 9-2 GLVC) head just south on Highway 13, taking on the Drury Panthers for the second time in three games. On Thursday, January 21, SBU defeated Drury 75-63 in Bolivar.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats are riding a three game winning streak, riding solid defensive performances in all three outings. SBU held Rockhurst to 19-55 shooting from the field, Missouri S&T to 18-56, and held Drury to 63 points, a team that came in averaging 83.5 points per game. Before the loss against USI, SBU was on a 5-game winning streak. The UMSL Tritons, who have spent time in the national rankings, handed the Bearcats their other loss. SBU received votes in the NABC Coaches poll for the fourth straight week.

In the conference, the Bearcats are first in field goal % defense (39.6%), second in scoring margin (+9.9), second in field goal % (48.6%), and second in rebounding offense (35.4). Individually in the GLVC, Brady Smith and Quinn Nelson are 11th and 12th in scoring at 16.2 and 15.7 ppg. Mitch Ganote is averaging 4.73 assists per game (5th in GLVC). Leading the team in rebounds is Brady Smith with 5.5 per game. Tyler Williams had the best game of his career so far against Missouri S&T, scoring 24 points on 9-11 shooting and 5-6 from deep.

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 PANTHERS
The Drury Panthers (Springfield, MO) bring a 5-4 record into Tuesday's matchup. They won two against Rockhurst and William Jewell prior to losing to SBU on Thursday. The Panthers have also lost to Truman State, Missouri-St. Louis, and Missouri S&T. The Panthers lead the GLVC in scoring offense (81.2 ppg) but rank 13th in scoring defense (78.7 ppg). Beyond the arc, Drury is shooting 41.4%, but they have been struggling at the free throw line, making just 63.4% (last in GLVC). Conley Garrison and Jason Montgomery rank 5th and 7th in the GLVC in scoring, averaging 19.2 and 17.9 ppg respectively. Garrison ranks second the GLVC in assists, averaging 5.33 per game. Montgomery is 5th in field goal percentage at 55.9%. Both have been named GLVC Player of the Week.

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.

Steve Hesser continues his position as the leader of the Panthers, 2020-21 marking his 17th season with the team. He is the program's winningest coach, holding a record of 343-135 at DU. In 2013, Hesser helped the Panthers claim the NCAA DII National Championship.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU trails the all-time series 24-36. The Bearcats beat the Panthers by 12 just a few days ago. In that game, SBU out-rebounded Drury 40-21 and held the Panthers to 63 points when they have averaged 83.5 this season. Mitch Ganote had a career high 21 points on 7-12 shooting, and had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Quinn Nelson also had 18 in the win. Last year, the Bearcats split the season series with the Panthers 1-1. Drury won the first game in Springfield by a narrow deficit of 70-76. SBU later defeated Drury for the first time in 8 years, 82-74. In that victory, Brady Smith exploded for 29 points on 9-11 shooting from the field (both career highs). He also had 7 rebounds, 5 assists, a block and a steal. Quinn Nelson and Mitch Ganote hit double digits in that win as well.