February 2, 2005
[Gamenotes] [Final Stats] [Pictures]
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Sheldon Pace knocked down the game winning shot from 16 feet away and less than three seconds remaining to complete the season sweep of TSU. |
KIRKSVILLE, MO. ... Four days removed from an intense overtime battle at Maryville, MO. last Saturday, Southwest Baptist (10-10 / 4-7 MIAA) completed the first season sweep over any opponent since the 2001-2002 season.
With the game tied at 71, Sheldon Pace knocked down a sixteen foot jumper with under three seconds remaining to secure another Bearcat victory and keep SBU right in the hunt for postseason play. With the win, SBU is now only one game back behind Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri St., and Missouri Western in the MIAA standings.
In what started out to be a sluggish first half for both teams, Freshman Deontra Levi knocked down a trey with two seconds remaining to cap off an 8-2 run and send the Bearcats into the half with a 27-21 lead.
With 6:55 remaining in the game and the Bearcats pulling ahead by ten points, TSU Head Coach Jack Schrader received a technical foul that actually sparked a 10-4 run to pull the Bulldogs within four points with just over four minutes remaining.
Southwest Baptist never trailed in the second half and like their earlier meeting this season, the Bearcats at one time held a double digit lead keeping one of the better three-point shooting teams in the conference to only 26 percent shooting on the night from the three-point line. The Bulldogs consistently challenged SBU's post presence by scoring 40 points in the paint to get them back into the game to force the dramatic finish.
Pace, who scored a career high 29 points at Northwest Missouri St. last Saturday, picked up right where he left off notching a game high 19 points. Freshman Deontra Levi scored a new career high with 15 points off of 75% shooting from beyond the arc. Rommel Colina went a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line en route to another double figure performance with 10 points and a team high five rebounds. SBU's bench outscored the Bulldogs 23-7 for the game.
TSU forward Andy Calmes had a stat-stuffing performance scoring 19 points and grabbing a career high 18 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Southwest Baptist returns home for two straight games, first against Missouri Western on Saturday, February 5 at 7:30 pm at the Meyer Sports Center. The Griffons defeated SBU earlier on the season 81-67 in St. Joseph, MO.
