2008 Woodie Awards
SBU Crowned MIAA Champs at Mules' Expense
Nate Taylor: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sports
If there was an early sign for the Mules' basketball team to look to in Tuesday's night match against Southwest Baptist, it would have been shooting percentage.
How did the Mules start the game?
They shot a lowly 1-for-14.
Although the Mules were able to stay in the game for the first half, the No. 23-ranked Bearcats of SBU handled Central Missouri early in the second to overpower the Mules 66-57 in Bolivar, Mo.
With the loss the Mules, 17-9 overall, let their MIAA record fall to 10-7, while Southwest Baptist, 20-6, improved its conference record to 13-4.
With the win, the Bearcats finished their season undefeated at home and clinched the MIAA regular season championship.
The win also gave the Bearcats their second conference regular season championship in the past three years.
"They made all the plays, and we couldn't get anything going on offense," said coach Kim Anderson. "But don't get me wrong, they deserve to be the conference champions. They are the best team this conference season."
Even with the Mules shooting badly to start the game, Central Missouri led the Bearcats early by six points after the 10-minute mark.
SBU took advantage of the tempo from that point and finished the half with a 22-21 lead.
"We shot the ball way too quick at times," Anderson said. "It was an emotional game, and I think our guys responded to a little bit of that, too. We just didn't execute on offense."
By having the Mules open the second half shooting ice-cold, Southwest Baptist was able to find its shooting range from the outside by connecting on three three-pointers in the early minutes of the second half.
The Bearcats were able to push its lead to 14 points with 13 minutes left. That lead eventually grew to 19.
Central Missouri was able to cut the lead to as little as six with three minutes left by playing full-court defense, but that was as close as the team got.
"We got it back to six, and we had a chance to get it closer," Anderson said. "We should of shot the ball better from the free-throw line, and we let them get in a rhythm on offense in the second half."
How did the Mules start the game?
They shot a lowly 1-for-14.
Although the Mules were able to stay in the game for the first half, the No. 23-ranked Bearcats of SBU handled Central Missouri early in the second to overpower the Mules 66-57 in Bolivar, Mo.
With the loss the Mules, 17-9 overall, let their MIAA record fall to 10-7, while Southwest Baptist, 20-6, improved its conference record to 13-4.
With the win, the Bearcats finished their season undefeated at home and clinched the MIAA regular season championship.
The win also gave the Bearcats their second conference regular season championship in the past three years.
"They made all the plays, and we couldn't get anything going on offense," said coach Kim Anderson. "But don't get me wrong, they deserve to be the conference champions. They are the best team this conference season."
Even with the Mules shooting badly to start the game, Central Missouri led the Bearcats early by six points after the 10-minute mark.
SBU took advantage of the tempo from that point and finished the half with a 22-21 lead.
"We shot the ball way too quick at times," Anderson said. "It was an emotional game, and I think our guys responded to a little bit of that, too. We just didn't execute on offense."
By having the Mules open the second half shooting ice-cold, Southwest Baptist was able to find its shooting range from the outside by connecting on three three-pointers in the early minutes of the second half.
The Bearcats were able to push its lead to 14 points with 13 minutes left. That lead eventually grew to 19.
Central Missouri was able to cut the lead to as little as six with three minutes left by playing full-court defense, but that was as close as the team got.
"We got it back to six, and we had a chance to get it closer," Anderson said. "We should of shot the ball better from the free-throw line, and we let them get in a rhythm on offense in the second half."
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