Game Notes

Date: December 2, 2021
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Kansas City, MO 

Kansas City, Mo. - The Bearcats break up their home stretch with a single road game up north against Rockhurst. Following that contest, the team will return home for 4 consecutive home games.

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.

The Bearcats are continuing their hot start, entering Thursday's competition with a 5-1 (1-0 GLVC) record. Most recently, the team faced William Jewell in their conference opener at home. SBU fought off William Jewell to take the contest 77-66, beginning conference play 1-0. With 18 three pointers made this season, Quinn Nelson is 3 away from tying SBU's career record and 4 from breaking it. He leads the team with 84 points (14.0 ppg) and has 18 assists and 4 steals as well. Point guard Mitch Ganote continues to do it all, scoring 78 points on 54.0% shooting, grabbing 53 rebounds (8.8 rpg), 38 assists (6.3 apg), 13 steals, and 4 blocks. Jalil Beaubrun has been impressive down low, recording 76 points on 50.9% from the field and 16 blocks (3rd most in the nation). Other starters in RJ Crawford and Joe Miller have been key contributors as well. Both are shooting over 50% (Miller at 59.1% and Crawford at 55.6%), and they total 51 rebounds. Off the bench, Nico Aguirre has contributed 13 three's on 61.9% shooting (5th in the nation).

SCOUTING THE HAWKS
The Rockhurst Hawks come into Thursday's competition with a 2-5 record, playing SBU for their first GLVC competition. They started the year with three losses, falling to Saint Thomas Aquinas 56-78, Northern State 59-77, and Davenport 64-77. Bouncing back, the Hawks defeated Purdue Northwest 63-56 to pick up their first win of the year. Shortly after, the team fell to a pair of MIAA teams in Emporia State and Missouri Western, but most recently beat Concordia 87-70. The team is led by 6'8" 225 lb senior forward, Nick Volz. This season, Volz has scored 105 points (15.0 ppg) on 57.7% shooting, grabbed 46 rebounds, and dished 18 assists. Also over the century mark is Jake Auer, recording 101 points.

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.

Drew Diener continues his coaching career at Rockhurst, beginning his seventh season with the Hawks. Through his first six seasons, Diener has helped the Hawks to an 82-80 overall record. The 2018-19 season was the most successful under Diener, as the team finished 17-12.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU trails the all-time series 23-32, sweeping the series last year. Early in the year, SBU defeated Rockhurst 91-83 at home, followed by a 72-59 road victory. In the first meeting last year, Mitch Ganote was 1 rebound shy of a triple double, posting 20 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, all while turning the ball over just once.