[box vs. CMSU]  [pics vs. CMSU]

Sheldon Pace shelled out 17 assists for a new SBU single game record and helped SBU to a 17-point win over #17 CMSU.

BOLIVAR, MO. ... A 25-12 run early in the second half pushed #7 Southwest Baptist University (15-1/4-1) to a 95-78 win over #17 Central Missouri State in a top 25 showdown.  SBU took as large as a 21-point lead in the second half before CMSU cut it to eight.

The win is SBU's 15th in 16 games and is a NCAA Division II best.  The win also puts SBU in first place in the MIAA with a 4-1 record. 

"It was the first game all year that we played hard from tipoff to the end of the game," says assistant head coach Stan Johnson. "We could not have played any harder.  To be champions you have to beat the champion and we did that today."

Senior Sheldon Pace had a career game as he shelled out 17 assists which is a new single game record for SBU.  He is also the first player in the MIAA since Jordan Canfield (Washburn) in 1995 to have 17 assists in one game.  He finished the game with 20 points and shot 50% from the floor.  It is the third straight game that he has had 11 or more assists in one game. 

SBU had four other players in double figures as freshman Colt Blair had a career-high 17 points followed by Frans Steyn's 14 points and Owen Newman and Deon Davis with 10.  Steyn had nine rebounds to lead SBU.  CMSU's Michael Hicks led all scorers with 28 points.

Only up by eight points with 18:54 to go in the game. SBU went on a 25-12 run over the next seven minutes for a commanding 21-point lead, 73-52.  SBU made five three-pointers out of seven attempts.  Blair hit four of the three-pointers and made the first three in the first four minutes of the run.  CMSU never recovered from that run.  The mules did come within eight, 77-69, with 6:22 remaining but SBU pushed their lead back to 16 in less than a minute and a half, 85-69. 

With 20 seconds left in the game, Pace picked up his 17th assist when Davis canned a three-pointer to make it 95-78.

The first half was a battle as their were four ties in 16 minutes.  With 3:50 to go, SBU finished the half on a 12-5 run to take a 44-37 lead at the half. 

SBU finished the game shooting a phenomenal 54% from the floor and 44% from three-point range.  They also made 15-of-19 from the free throw line.  CMSU shot 37% from the floor and forced 17 SBU turnovers.  SBU out rebounded CMSU, 40-34.

SBU will face another challenge on Saturday, January 14, as they travel to Topeka, Kansas, to face Washburn at 7:30 p.m.