Game Notes (PDF)

Date: November 13, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Rolla, MO 

Rolla, Mo. - The SBU Men's Basketball returns to action, ready for the 2021-22 season. After a shortened, conference opponent only season, the team looks to get back to a full regular season. The team's original season opener was scheduled against Lake Superior State, but that contest was canceled due to COVID. SBU will now open the new season against Trevecca Nazarene in Rolla, MO. 

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats look to keep their momentum rolling, coming off a 15-6 regular season last year and a 20-8 regular season in 2019-20. Last season, SBU swept the GLVC West Division, earning the #3 seed in the conference tournament. Their 15 conference wins are the second most in a season in program history. Despite losing a key contributor from last year's squad, SBU returns 4 starters, including All-GLVC selections in Quinn Nelson and Mitch Ganote. Nelson led the team in scoring with 324 points (15.4 ppg), three-point field goals made (54, 4th in GLVC), free throw % (60-67, 89.6%, 2nd in GLVC), and minutes played (652, 31.0 per game). He also had 55 rebounds, 42 assists, 15 steals, and 7 blocks. Ganote was a threat all around, recording 4 double-doubles, 5 20-point games, and was 1 rebound shy of a triple-double against Rockhurst. Joe Miller and Jalil Beaubrun also return to the starting lineup and will make a big impact on the floor. A total of 9 Bearcats return from last year's roster, 6 new faces have been added.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The Trevecca Nazarene Trojans are coming off a 5-17 record in the 2020-21 season. They started the year on a cold spell, taking 6 games to pick up their first victory. Three of their 5 wins were decided by 4 points or less. In the conference tournament, the Trojans fell to top-seeded Hillsdale in the first round. The team will have 7 new faces, including a transfer from Liberty University, Josh Price, son of former NBA-standout Mark Price. Eight returners are in place, but the Trojans lost star point guard Imani Starling, 3-point specialist Austin Wills, and big man Adam Webb. Earlier this month, the Trojans played Ole Miss in an exhibition, falling by just 7 points in the 83-76 final. 

THE COACHES
SBU head coach Clark Sheehy begins his eighth season on the SBU bench after compiling an 97-99 (60-80 conf.) record while at SBU. Coach Sheehy holds a career coaching record of 279-205 across sixteen seasons while coaching six different All-Americans and over 40 athletes that have moved on to play professional basketball.

Omar Mance begins his fourth season with Trevecca Nazarene, taking over the program prior to the 2018-19 season. In his first 3 years, Mance has led the team to a 15-59 record. Mance previously spent time at Rice University, serving as an assistant coach, as well as Vanderbilt University, also as an assistant.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU leads the all-time series, winning the only matchup a couple of years ago, 64-45. In his first game as a Bearcat, Joe Miller nearly posted a double-double, dropping 8 points and snagging 11 rebounds. Defense was a major factor in that win, holding TNU to 13-55 (23.6%) from the field.