Basketball (Men's)
#11 SBU sweeps Washburn in MIAA play
By
Feb 11, 2006, 22:53

Sheldon Pace broke the SBU single season record for assists with 205.

[box vs. WU]

BOLIVAR, MO. ... Improving to 21-2 on the year and holding onto their lead in the MIAA, Southwest Baptist University swept Washburn in MIAA play with a 76-63 win.  Senior Sheldon Pace became the SBU single season record holder for assists as he recorded four for 205 assists.

"Our three seniors, Frans (Steyn), Sheldon (Pace) and Deon (Davis), set the tone for us. When they play good we make our runs in the game, our seniors are a big part of that,” says head coach Jeff Guiot. "Washburn has a lot of pride in their program. They have won [the MIAA] four out of the last five years so I knew they were going to come in here and play well. Especially after we gave them their worst lost ever at home last time we played them.”

Frans Steyn led all scorers with 17 points as he hit 7-of-12 shots from the floor.  Pace fell just one rebound short of his 6th double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.   The Bob Cousy Award finalist also had two steals, two blocks, and four assists.  Deon Davis finished with eight points and nine rebounds which is a career-high for him.  WU's Andrew Meile had 15 points.

Frans Steyn led all scorers with 17 points.

Clinging to just a one-point lead at the half, SBU started the second half on an 11-1 run for an 11-point lead, 45-34.  In the run, Steyn had six of the 11 points.  From that point on SBU was in command of the game and never looked back.  Jim Grabowski gave SBU their largest lead of 15 over WU with 7:43 left in the game on a layup off a rebound.  WU did cut the lead to eight, 61-53, with 4:35 to go but SBU responed with an 8-1 run for their second 15-point lead, 69-54.  SBU then went on for the 13-point win, 76-63. 

SBU's defense was a key in the second half as WU only made three shots from the floor in the first 10 minutes of the second half.  Steyn had three of SBU's six second half blocks on their way to 10 on the game.

WU stayed with the Bearcats in the first half they took a six-point lead, 18-12, with 10:11 to go.  SBU went on a 7-1 run in two minutes to tie the game at 19.  In the final 10 minutes of the half there were six more ties as neither team could take control.  WU took a two-point lead, 33-31, with just 00:27 left in the half only to see Colt Blair nail a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to put SBU up by one at the half, 34-33.

SBU shot 45% overall in the game to WU's 37% and out rebounded WU, 49-28. 

Deon Davis grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

The Bearcats will be tested on the road Wednesday as they travel to Warrensburg and face Central Missouri State at 7:30 p.m.

Notes: It is only the second time that SBU has swept Washburn in MIAA play...The last time was in the 1990-91 season...The 21 rebound advantage (49-28) is the largest all season for SBU over an opponent...Sheldon Pace is now the single season holder for assists at SBU with 205...He broke Ernest Hall's record of 201 from the 1990-91 season...This is the 17th game this season that SBU has shot over 45%...SBU has never shot under 40% this season in a game...The 10 blocks in a game is the most since SBU had nine vs. Mid-America Nazarene to open up the season...Deon Davis grabbed a career-high nine rebounds...The 16% shooting from 3-point land is the 2nd worst of the year as SBU shot 12% vs. MSSU.