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Frans Steyn led SBU with 22 points and 10 rebounds for his 9th double-double of the year.

KANSAS CITY, MO. ... Opening up the second half on a 15-7 run, Southwest Baptist University overcame a six-point halftime deficit to take the lead and never look back in a 67-52 win over Pittsburg State in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.  SBU was down 32-26 at the half.

"Our second half was better than the first half because we played with more heart.  In the first half we did not play with much heart," says head coach Jeff Guiot. "At halftime, we talked about taking care of each other and playing with more heart and effort.  Our effort and heart was there in the second half and that was the difference in the ball game."

SBU was led by 7'2" senior Frans Steyn with 22 points and 10 rebounds for his 9th double-double of the year with 10-of-14 shooting from the floor.  Jason Jemison had 12 points while Sheldon Pace added 10.  PSU's Ed Morris had 21 points.

Down by six, 32-26, at the half, the Bearcats went ona 15-7 run over nine minutes to take a 41-39 lead on a Steyn layup.  Steyn started the run just 37 seconds into the second half with a layup.  Jim Grabowski cut the lead to one, 32-31 (17:18), and then Jemison tied the game at 35 after PSU made a shot to go up by three.  PSU's Morris gave the Gorillas the lead and it lasted 1:37 only because of a combined five missed shots.  SBU's Danny Norman tied the game for the 2nd time on a jumper at the 13:19 mark and then Jesus Lopez stole a pass from PSU's Eddie Jackson and took it down to put SBU up by two, 39-37.  Morris nailed two free throws at the 11:49 mark to tie the game again only to see Steyn put SBU up for good at the 11:24 mark, 41-39. 

SBU ran their lead to seven by the 9:05 mark on a Jemison three-pointer but the Gorillas would not  give up.  PSU came within four-points twice but SBU caged the Gorillas each time with key three-pointers by Jemison. 

Jason Jemison hit four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points.

A Jackson turnover at the 5:59 mark turned into a Colt Blair three-pointer to put SBU up by 10, 59-49, with just 5:55 to play.  That shot was the nail in the coffin for PSU as they never recovered.  With 1:16 to go in the game, Steyn hit a free throw to give SBU their largest lead of the game of 15 points, 67-52.

With 22 points, all-MIAA second teamer Steyn was the key to the win for SBU. 

Steyn says, "I just went out there and had fun.  I didn’t care about the points because all we want as the team is a victory."

SBU's first half was not pretty as they shot only 32% from the floor and 18% from 3-point land.  They also committed 12 turnovers.  The two teams battled all the way through as there were four lead changes.

The Bearcats came out shooting as they took a 4-0 lead.  PSU answered with a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead, 10-6, with 15:24 to play.  Jemison's first 3-pointer of the game put SBU back on top, 11-10, at the 11:56 mark as the Bearcats took as large as a four-point lead, 18-14, with 8:52 left in the half.  Over the next 3:26 PSU fought back with a 12-3 run to take a five-point lead, 26-21, with 5:26 left.  SBU cut the lead to one, twice, but PSU scored the final five points of the half for a six-point halftime advantage.

Sheldon Pace had 10 points for SBU.

SBU finished shooting 45% from the floor and only committed two turnovers in the second half.  They were out rebounded, 42-37, by the Gorillas but PSU only shot 31% from the floor, 19% from the three-point line, and 45% from the free throw line.

SBU will now face the winner of the NW Missouri State and Missouri Western game at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, in the Municipal Auditorium.

NOTES: Jeff Guiot is now 4-1 vs. his alma mater (PSU)...SBU defeats PSU three straight times this season...PSU still leads the series, 25-19...Guiot is now 2-1 in the post season at SBU and 4-5 overall...Steyn's 22 points is his 3rd best effort of the year as he scored 24 vs. TSU (12/10/05)...It is the 2nd time this year that Steyn has made 10 shots from the floor...The win gives SBU a 24-4 record on the year...It is the 8th time this year that Jemison has made four or more 3-pointers in one game...SBU is now 3-4 on the year when trailing at the half...Steyn now has 59 blocks on the year...Pace's 6 assists now gives him 404 career assists.