Game Notes (PDF)

Date: February 25, 2021
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Quincy, IL

Bolivar, Mo. - After wrapping up their regular season home schedule, Southwest Baptist (14-5) will hit the road for two contests to end the regular season. Thursday's matchup will feature the Hawks of Quincy University (6-14).

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
A 73-60 victory over Illinois Springfield on senior day has the Bearcats riding a three game winning streak. Brady Smith was near a double-double, scoring 21 points with 8 rebounds. With that victory, the team hit 14 conference wins on the season, the program's most since the 2008-09 season. SBU is still receiving votes in the national poll, and are "under consideration" in the Midwest Regional rankings.

The Bearcats remain at the top of quite a few GLVC categories; 1st in field goal % defense (40.1%), 1st in rebounding defense (29.2), 2nd in scoring defense (68.4 ppg), 2nd in scoring margin (+8.5), 2nd in 3-point field goal % defense (32.2%), 2nd in rebounding margin (+6.9), 2nd in defensive rebounds (27.0), and 3rd in field goal % (47.5%). Quinn Nelson (15.6 ppg) and Brady Smith (15.2 ppg) lead the team in scoring, 12th and 14th in the GLVC. Making 55.1% of his shots is Mitch Ganote, ranking 5th in the conference. Ganote also leads the team in assists with 4.11, 7th in the GLVC. SBU's primary rebounder is Brady Smith, averaging 5.9 per game.

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 HAWKS
The Quincy Hawks enter Thursday's matchup at 6-14 on the season. It took them 5 games to finally get in the win column, beating Maryville 91-81 to end the four game losing streak. They have played Truman State very close in both games, losing in overtime in the first matchup and falling by 6 in the second contest. Quincy also played Southern Indiana and Missouri-St. Louis to 6-point finishes, and beat McKendree 75-69 in January. Most recently, the Hawks fell to Rockhurst 62-68 in Kansas City. Tanner Stuckman is the leader of the team, averaging 18.5 ppg (5th in GLVC) on 53.1% shooting. The 6'9" forward also shoots the 3 ball, making 37 this year on 42.5% from deep. Charles Callier is the only Hawk to start all 20 games this year, making a conference-high 53 three pointers this year. The Hawks are surrendering an average of 80.8 ppg with the worst turnover margin in the conference (-4.45), but they have the 2nd most 3-point field goals made per game at 10.05 and 3rd most defensive rebounds per contest (26.9).

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.

Ryan Hellenthal returns as the coach of the Hawks for his fourth season. He spent the season before as an assistant, helping the Hawks to a 25-7 record and a conference tournament appearance. Hellenthal was also part of the Central Missouri coaching staff from 2014-16.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Bearcats lead the all-time series 4-3. SBU has won the past three meetings, most recently last year in Bolivar. In that game, Quinn Nelson dropped 15 points, going 3-5 from deep. Mitch Ganote scored 10 and had 8 assists in the 90-65 victory. SBU shot 50.8% from the field and held Quincy to 18-62 (29.0%).