Bolivar, Mo. – Coming off their first loss in five games, the SBU men's basketball team looks to bounce back on their home court with two GLVC bouts this week. They'll begin on Thursday against the Lincoln Blue Tigers and then Saturday against the Missouri St. Louis Tritons.
 
Their Fall semester ended on a high note with four straight wins, but two weeks off made it a difficult transition back into the high caliber speed of the GLVC. This past Sunday they fell to the most potent offense in the GLVC, Rockhurst, by a final score of 78-87, moving an overall record of 8-5. In that game, junior Jevin Sullivan scored an SBU career high 27 points off 13 made free throws.
 
Sullivan has been continually showing out for the Bearcats now averaging 12.3 PPG and 7.2 RPG (leads the team). The leading scorer for the Bearcats has been the ever-consistent Zac Reedus averaging 17.7 PPG scoring double figures in every game this season. After a 20-point game at Rockhurst he is averaging 20.2 PPG against GLVC opponents, 3^rd best in the league. Other leading scorers are sophomores Barron Silsby (14.9) and Brandon Moore (12.7), both shooting above 50% from the field.
 
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. the Bearcats will take on the Blue Tigers for the second time this season. The first game went the Blue Tigers way as they came away with a 68-77 victory. Since that game, the team has struggled in conference play dropping five straight and sit near the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 GLVC record. Lincoln is not a team to be taken lightly as they are still the reigning GLVC tournament champions.
 
Two days later it will be another exciting edition of a Bearcat and Triton matchup. Missouri-St. Louis enter this game with a 9-6 overall record and 3-3 GLVC record. Thus far there has not been a common opponent that these two teams have faced, but one of their biggest wins was against #13 ranked Michigan Tech earlier in the year. This game is expected to be a defensive battle as it pits the 2^nd (Tritons) and 3^rd (Bearcats) ranked defenses in the conference.
 
SBU men's basketball has already eclipsed their win total from last year and look to use their strong home presence this season to continue that trend and find themselves back in the conference tournament.