Game Notes (PDF)

Date: March 3, 2021
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Bolivar, MO 

Bolivar, Mo. - Following the 2020-21 regular season finale at Kirksville, the Bearcats (15-6) earned the 3 seed in the GLVC Tournament. They will host the 6 seeded rival Drury Panthers (9-9) in the quarterfinal round.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist ended the regular season with a 15-6 record, tying the second most conference wins in a season in program history. Nationally ranked Truman State put an end to SBU's four game winning streak on Saturday, defeating the Bearcats 79-66. For 3:15 stretch in that game, TSU went on a 13-0 run. The teams were even for the remaining 36:45. After the Bulldogs shot 61.4% from the field, SBU now ranks 2nd in field goal % defense at 41.1%. They are also 2nd in rebounding margin (+6.1), rebounding defense (28.9), and scoring margin (+7.7). Their scoring defense (68.9 ppg), free throw % (77.2%), field goal % (47.7%), 3-point field goal % defense (33.5%), and rebounding offense (35.0) all rank 3rd in the conference. Announced Tuesday morning, Brady Smith, Quinn Nelson, and Mitch Ganote were each named to All-GLVC teams; Smith to the 1st team, Nelson to the 2nd team, and Ganote to the All-Defensive team. In addition, the team received the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team award.

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) enter the postseason with a .500 record of 9-9. After cancelling their past 4 games, the Panthers last played on February 13 at Southern Indiana. In that game, the Panthers gave up a last second field goal and fouled the Screaming Eagles player, losing on that free throw by a 91-90 final score. Prior to that game, the Panthers had won 4 in a row, defeating Lindenwood, Missouri-St. Louis, Rockhurst, and McKendree. Conley Garrison, a senior from Bolivar, leads the team in several categories including points (18.2 ppg, 5th in GLVC), rebounds (5.8 rpg), assists (5.11 apg, 2nd in GLVC), steals (2.56, 1st in GLVC), and 3-point field goals made (2.78 per game, 3rd in GLVC). Jason Montgomery has also had an impact on the team, averaging 15.7 ppg, shooting 52-110 (47.3%) from deep, and collecting 13 blocks. Both were named to All-GLVC teams, Garrison a unanimous first team and defensive team selection and Montgomery a second team selection.

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 25-36. The Bearcats beat the Panthers by 12 in the first matchup of the year, and again by 35 in the second matchup in Springfield. SBU completed the regular season sweep of the Panthers for the first time since the 1987-88 season. In addition, the 81-46 final was the largest margin of victory in matchup history and Drury's 46 points were the fewest scored by the Panthers since the teams have competed against one another. Quinn Nelson was 6-6 from the field and 5-5 from three in just 16 minutes played. Juan Morales also set his career-high in points with 12. Defense was huge in that game as well, holding Drury's leader 0 points on 0-7 shooting from the field in 19 minutes played. SBU held the DU to 18-54 shooting and 3-20 from deep.