February 26, 2005
[Gamenotes] [Final Stats]
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Cedric Ousley for the second consecutive game, connects on crucial free throws down the stretch and secures another victory for SBU. |
BOLIVAR, MO. ... It's been exactly ten years since Southwest Baptist's men's basketball program has seen a winning season, but with a 79-77 victory over Emporia State (16-11 / 8-10 MIAA) on Saturday night, SBU (15-12 / 9-9 MIAA) clinched that feat and controlled its own destiny, earning the number four seed in next week's MIAA Championships.
SBU went completely ice cold in the game's first eight minutes, only scoring four points, including not scoring a single point over a six minute span. Southwest Baptist fought back using their favorite weapon of the 2004-05 season, the three-point shot, nailing six treys in the half's last 11 minutes including two from Deontra Levi. The Bearcats clawed back from on the verge of getting ran out of their own gym to close the gap to five points to end the half, 41-36.
ESU forward Wes Book was perfect with every shot he attempted in the first half, including 8-8 from the field, 3-3 from beyond the arc, and 1-1 from the free throw line for a game high 20 points at the half.
Coming within one point twice, tying the game at 65 and 67, SBU finally got over the hump with an NBA range three-pointer from Danny Norman to give the Bearcats their first lead at 70-69 with 5:48 remaining in the game. Southwest Baptist never trailed again using a 20-5 run over seven minutes. Cedric Ousley, playing in his final home game, came up huge to can four consecutive free throws down the stretch to ice the game almost identical to the situation that he faced earlier this week versus #10 Central Missouri State.
Sheldon Pace had a game high 22 points and seven assists for SBU. Four other Bearcats scored in double figures including Ousley with 13 points. Martez Young, Norman, and Levi all finished with 12 points each. Emporia State guard Tyrell Sledge led all scorers with a game high 28 points including 19 in the second half alone and a perfect 11-11 from the charity stripe. Book finished with 23 points and five rebounds.
The Bearcats played shorthanded again, lost the services of Rommel Colina with 4:18 remaining in the first half after he was called for a flagrant foul and then immediately ejected.
With the victory, Southwest Baptist defeated Emporia State for the first time since ironically the last season, SBU qualified for the MIAA postseason tournament, 2001-2002. The Bearcats enter next weekend's tournament as the number four seed and will have their highly awaited rematch with their Bearcat counterparts and number five seeded Northwest Missouri State, who finished their regular season winning back-to-back games. SBU and NWMSU split the season series with each team winning in overtime at home. The Northwest Bearcats are coming into the tournament the defending MIAA Champions and a 2004 Elite 8 NCAA Tournament participant.
The game is slated to tip off at approximately 2:30 pm on Friday, March 4 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Muncipal Auditorium.
