Game Notes

Date: December 4, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Bolivar, MO 

Bolivar, Mo. - The Bearcats round off a 3 conference game week at home as they take on the Missouri S&T Miners. They are coming home from a single game road trip in Kansas City.

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 off to their best conference start since entering the GLVC in 2019. They recently got their first road win of the season against inter-divisonal rival Rockhurst Hawks. SBU won the contest 76-68, to begin the season 6-1 (2-0 Conference). Quinn Nelson recently broke the school career three pointers made hitting 6 the other night against Rockhurst, only needing 4 to break it. He leads the team with 105 points (15.0 ppg) and has 20 assists, 19 rebounds, and 6 steals as well. Point guard Mitch Ganote continues to do it all, averaging 12.4 ppg, 8.7 rebounds per game, and 6.1 assists per game along with 14 total steals. Jalil Beaubrun has been the most consistant scorer on the team reaching double figures 6 out of 7 games this season, shooting 50% from the field. He now has 18 blocks (tied for 2nd most in the nation). Nico Aguirre has been the star off the bench for the Bearcats averaging 10.3 ppg, shooting 52.6% from the field and 56% from the three-point line. He has also knocked down 18 of 20 free throws for 90% (36th in the nation).

SCOUTING THE MINERS
The Missouri S&T Miners are coming off a road loss against the William Jewell Cardinals, 77-81. Earlier in the week they beat the Panthers of Drury at home for their first conference win of the season. Their one other win of the season was against Principia College. They have losses against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Arkansas Moticello, and Trevecca Nazarene who the Bearcats beat in their first game of the season. The Miners have 5 players averaging double figures with Julien Smith Leading the way averaging 19.3 ppg. Smith is shooting 40% from the field and has hit 19 three's on the season. The miners are averaging 80.8 ppg and holding their opponents to 77.3 ppg.

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.

Larry Walker is in his third season as the head coach of the S&T Miners. Walker has posted a 10-36 record as the coach of the Miners in his first 2 seasons. Before becoming a Miner he was the head coach of the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU leads the all-time series 33-19, including a season sweep last year. The first matchup was won by SBU in an 86-72 final, followed by a dominating 88-61 second meeting final. Tyler Williams shined in the second competition, scoring 24 points on 9-11 shooting, 5-6 from three.