Basketball (Men's)
Pace lifts SBU in 2nd game winning shot in a week
By
Feb 5, 2006, 02:31

For the second time in a week, Sheldon Pace hit the game winning shot. He finished with 21 points.

[box vs. MWSU]

ST. JOSEPH, MO. … Bob Cousy finalist Sheldon Pace showed why he is one of the top players in the country as he scripted his second game winning shot in a week to give #11 Southwest Baptist a 77-75 victory over Missouri Western.  With 00:02 left in the game, he pulled up five feet away from the bucket to nail the game winning shot as it rolled in for the win.  SBU is now 20-2 on the year as it is the 6^th time in the history of the program that a team has won 20 games.

Pace led all scorers with 21 points and recorded five assists to tie the SBU single season record for assists in a season at 201.  Frans Steyn came away with his 7^th double-double of the year with 16 points and 13 rebounds.  Deon Davis had 12 points.  Brian Videau had 17 for MWSU.    

 Taking control of the first four minutes of the game, SBU had a 13-1 lead and it looked as though the Bearcats would run away with the game.  With 10:59 to go, SBU had a 13-pint lead, 20-7, as MWSU did not hit double figures until the 8:46 mark to make it 20-10.  That shot sparked an 18-2 run over the next 5:30 as the Griffons took the lead, 25-22, at the 3:28 mark on a free throw shot.  Steyn cut the lead to one on a dunk at the 2:57 mark and then Pace put SBU ahead, 26-25, with just 2:13 left in the half.  Two free throws and a three-pointer put MWSU back up by four but Colt Blair put SBU within one on a three-pointer with just 00:44 left.  Nobody made any shots in the next 44 seconds as MWSU took a one-point lead into the locker room, 30-29.

SBU opened up the second half on a 5-0 run to take the lead again, 34-30, on a three-point play by Pace and a free throw by Juan Lopez.  MWSU shot right back with a 10-1 run for a five-point lead, 40-35, with 14:23 left to play.  SBU cut the lead to two, 43-41, at the 13:01 mark but once again MWSU put together another run.  In the next four minutes, the Griffons had a 14-5 run for an 11-point lead, 57-46, with nine minutes to go.  SBU cut the lead to four only to see MWSU go back up by 11, 67-56, with 5:43 remaining in the game.   

Frans Steyn had his 7th double-double of the year with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

At this point, Pace took over the game in the final 5:43 that ended in his game winning shot.  Jim Grabowski started a 21-8 run on two free throws and then Pace scored the next six points to bring SBU within five, 69-64.  A free throw by Steyn brought the lead to four and then the next five points were scored by senior Deno Davis with the go ahead-shot with 1:48 left to play.  A MWSU free throw tied the game at 70 (1:41).  Steyn hit two free throws with 1:22 left to play but Kenny Oliver completed a three-point play for MWSU with 00:50 left for a one-point lead, 73-72.  Just nine seconds later, Jason Jemison hit his only three-pointer of the game to put SBU up 75-73.  MWSU’ Demarius Bold’s layup tied the game for the fourth time with 00:19 left.  SBU then put the ball in Pace’s hands to finish out the game as he hit the game winning shot.

SBU finished the game shooting 59% from the floor and made 16-of-23 in the second half (69%) while MWSU shot 38%.  The Griffons stayed in the game from the free throw line as they nailed 25-of-37 shots for 67% while SBU only made 16-of-33.  SBU out rebounded MWSU, 34-26. 

The Bearcats will host Washburn University at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, in the Meyer Sports Center.

Notes: Missouri Western is #8 in the South Central Region…This was Sheldon Pace’s third game-winning shot in his career at SBU…He has now scored 20 or more points in six games this season…Pace needs one more assist to break the SBU single season assists record (201)…This is 7^th game this season that Frans Steyn has had 10 or more rebounds and the 2^nd time he has had 13 in one game…It is the fourth game this season that Steyn has only missed one shot in the game…The 59% shooting from the floor is the best by SBU this season and tops the 58% shot vs. St. Mary’s in Las Vegas…It is the 8^th game that SBU has shot 50% or better this season…This is the 11^th game this year for SBU that has been decided by six points or less with SBU winning 10…It is the 2^nd game in a week that has been decided on the final shot…SBU has won eight games this season by four or less points…This is the 15^th game that SBU has out rebounded its opponent…SBU is now 2-2 on the year when trailing at the half…MWSU still holds a 42-18 advantage in the series…It is only the third time that SBU has swept the series from MWSU.