[box vs. PSU]

In only his 2nd season at SBU, Jeff Guiot has guided SBU to a MIAA Championship which is SBU's first in 15 years.

PITTSBURG, KS. … Finishing strong in the second half on 40% shooting from three-point range, the #18 Southwest Baptist University men’s basketball (22-4/11-4) team guaranteed themselves a share of the MIAA championship with a 78-69 win over Pittsburg State.  SBU hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 38 seconds to secure the win.

SBU will now at least share the MIAA championship due to Central Missouri State defeating Truman State.  SBU has a one-game lead over both teams with just one game left.  This is the first MIAA championship for SBU since the 1990-91 season and the second overall for SBU in men’s basketball. 

Jason Jemison led the way for SBU as he was one of four players in double figures.  He put up 16 points as he was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.  Deon Davis added 12 points while both Jim Grabowski and Frans Steyn had 11 points.  Jesus Lopez grabbed nine rebounds to lead SBU.  PSU’s Eddie Jackson led all scorers with 25 points.

Taking a 7-2 lead in the first 2:01 of the game, PSU ran their lead to nine, 16-7, by the 15:30 mark.  SBU answered with a 22-6 run over the 8:02 for a seven-point advantage.  A Steyn layup cut the lead to seven and then Danny Norman’s first of two straight three-pointers brought the lead down to five.  PSU hit their next shot and then Norman made his second three-pointer in less than 25 seconds to cut the lead to three, 18-15.  At the 11:33 mark, Colt Blair was fouled after his three-point shot and then stepped to the free throw line to hit all three shots to tie the game at 18.  Deon Davis gave SBU their first lead of the game on two free throws just 27 seconds later for a 20-18 advantage. 

SBU continued their run as they pushed their lead to seven, 29-22, in the next four minutes after Davis’ free throws. Jim Grabowski gave SBU the seven-point lead on a layup at the 7:02 mark.  The seven-point lead was not safe very long as the Gorillas went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 29 in just over two minutes.  Jesus Lopez made 1-of-2 from the free throw line to retake the lead for SBU only to see PSU’s Justin McCoy put the Gorillas back in the lead, 31-30, with just 2:43 left to play.  SBU went on to outscore PSU, 6-1, in the final 2:43 to take a 36-32 lead at the half.

Starting off with a 5-1 run, PSU tied the game at 37 just 3:06 into the second half.  Once again SBU answered with a run of 13-3 to take a 10-point lead, 50-40.  Steyn started the run with two made free throws at the 16:43 mark followed by a Jemison layup just 35 seconds later to make it 41-37.  After PSU cut the lead to two, Steyn had a ‘Shaq’ like dunk and completed a three-point play to put SBU up by five, 44-39. 

PSU’s Jackson made 1-of-2 from the free throw line to put the Gorillas within four but a Grabowski layup and four straight free throws by Jesus Lopez and Deon Davis gave SBU the 10-point lead with 11:27 to play.  By the 8:28 mark PSU had came with five, 56-51, only to see SBU answer with a 7-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 63-51.  Davis’ three-pointer put SBU up by 12 as he had five of the seven points in the run.

The Gorillas showed they would not go away easily with a 6-0 run to come within four points, 65-61, with 2:51 to go in the game.  Grabowski put SBU back up by seven as hit a clutch three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring at the 2:12 mark.  PSU came within five, 74-69, with just 20 seconds left in the game but SBU made their next four free throws for the win.

SBU broke their two-game skid of shooting under 40% with a 45% shooting effort from the floor and made 37% from the three-point line.  PSU finished shooting 42% from the floor.  SBU also out rebounded PSU, 39-30, and forced 14 turnovers.

The Bearcats will travel to Kirksville, Missouri, on Saturday, February 25, to take on Truman State at 3:30 p.m. as SBU will look for the outright MIAA Championship.