SBU BEARCATS (21-7) vs. West Texas A&M University Buffaloes (21-7)

March 15, 2008 • 6:00 PM • Wisdom Gym • Stephenville, Texas

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats (21-7) are headed to Stephenville, Texas, to play the Buffalos of West Texas A&M University (21-7) in their first game of the 2008 NCAA D-II South Central Regional.

The Bearcats, champions of the MIAA regular-season, were bumped from the MIAA Tournament in the first round by Emporia State, 79-83. The regular-season MIAA championship is SBU's second in three years. The Bearcats also made an appearance in the D-II Tournament in 1990 and again in 1991. They made an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1976.

Last week, the Bearcats learned they were well-represented in the MIAA post-season honors. Sophomore Matt Rogers was named as a unanimous selection to the All-MIAA First Team. Rogers was also named as the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. He was joined by SBU's Jim Grabowski on the All-MIAA First Team. Grabowski is the only player in SBU history to be a member of two men's MIAA Championship Teams. SBU's D'Ante Harris was named as a member of the ALL-MIAA Second Team.

SBU is 0-2 against West Texas A&M in the all-time series. The Bearcats lost 71-96 early in the 1991-92 season and lost 59-76 early in the 2002-03 season.

The Buffalos were champions of the Lone Star Conference (South Division) and ended the regular season with a stretch of 13 wins against a single loss, before getting knocked out of the conference tournament by Texas A&M Commerce (63-69, on March 5).

West Texas A&M are led by Robert Lee, who averages 17.8 points per game (21.1 ppg in conference play). Their leading rebounder is Tyler Cooper, with 5.6 per game.

Jim Grabowski is SBU's leading scorer with a 16.4 average. Matt Rogers is right behind him with a 15.5 average. Rogers has a team-leading rebound average of 8.0 per game, and a MIAA-leading swat total of 127 (also good for #2 in the nation). SBU's D'Ante Harris' output is 15.3 points per game.