January 2, 2011
BU opens new year against Cumberland, Belhaven
Weekly Release
This Week
The ninth-ranked Bellevue University men’s basketball team returns to action this week when they travel to Point Lookout, Mo. for the McDonald’s CAM JAM Basketball Classic hosted by College of the Ozarks. The Bruins will battle Cumberland University on Monday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. before playing against Belhaven University on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. with the Blazers.
Scouting Bellevue
Bellevue, winners of 10 of its last 11 games, is 12-2 overall and ranked No. 9 in NAIA Division II. The Bruins are coming off of a 66-62 win against sixth-ranked Briar Cliff University on Dec. 30 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Bruins return three letterwinners and two starters from last season’s 28-8 squad that captured the MCAC regular season and tournament titles, while advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
Eugene Bain leads BU in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Also averaging in double figures is Jelani Johnson (10.3 ppg, 4.0 apg and 1.6 spg). All-American Avery Tyler, who returned to action last week for the first time since suffering an injury against Morningside College on Nov. 6, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 ppg. Ousseynou Diop also adds 8.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg and leads the team with 51 blocked shots which ranks second in NAIA Division II. Jeremy Cruise leads the squad with 29 made three-pointers.
BU averages 80.2 points per game and shoot 47.4 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from behind the arc. The Bruins hold opponents to 65.6 points per game and 39.3 percent shooting.
Scouting Cumberland
Cumberland University is 3-5 overall and is coming off of an 86-65 exhibition loss at NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan College on Dec. 14.
The Bulldogs have two players averaging in double figures, and are led offensively by Walter Simon (12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Also averaging in double figures is Lindal Yarbrough (11.3 ppg, 4.1 apg). Lamar Brinkley leads CU on the glass, averaging 6.4 rebounds and 9.3 points per game.
CU scores 70.9 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. They give up 69.4 points per game and opponents shoot 44.5 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from behind the arc.
Scouting Belhaven
Belhaven University enters the week with a 7-6 overall record. In the Blazers’ last game, they defeated Rust College, 89-86, in Jackson, Miss. on Dec. 31.
The Blazers are led offensively by Rob Wallace, who leads the team with 21.5 ppg, 4.1 apg and 2.3 spg. Also averaging in double figures is Nathaniel Roche’ (13.3 ppg) and Daryl Arnold (11.6). Roche’ also is the team-leader in rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocked shots (27).
BU averages 78.0 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field. They shoot 33 percent from three-point range and 66.3 percent from the free-throw line. They limit opponents to 77.6 points per game and 42.9 percent shooting from the field.
Meet the Coaches
In his first two seasons at the helm of the Bellevue University men’s basketball program, Shane Paben has guided the Bruins to two consecutive trips to the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship, including a semifinal finish in 2010 and a quarterfinal appearance in 2009. He has a career mark of 64-19 (.771) at BU. He is assisted by Bob Ludwig, Jason Isaacson and Micah Stancil.
Cumberland is coached by Lonnie Thompson, now in his ninth season as the head coach. He has a career record of 144-117. Thompson is assisted by Brian Collins, Thurman Tucker and Reggie Nelson.
Tom Kelsey is in his sixth season as the head men’s basketball coach at Belhaven and has a record of 96-74. His assistant coaches include John Aiken and Zaveon Cooper.
National Rankings
Bellevue University remains ranked ninth in the latest NAIA Men’s Basketball Division II Coaches’ Poll, released on Monday., Dec. 13. Two other MCAC foes are also ranked in the coaches’ poll, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is second and College of the Ozarks is No. 18.
Block Party
Ousseynou Diop has blocked 51 shots this season which ranks second in NAIA Division II. He has totaled four or more blocks in his last four games and set a career-high with eight blocks versus Harris-Stowe on Nov. 12. In Diop’s first two seasons, he has led the team and the MCAC in blocked shots. For his career, Diop has swatted 153 shots.
Doubling Up
The frontcourt duo of Eugene Bain and Ousseynou Diop have accounted for all eight of the Bruins’ double-doubles this season. Bain has registered six while Diop has notched two double-doubles.
Tyler Returns to the Lineup
All-American Avery Tyler saw his first action of play last week after suffering an injury on Nov. 6. The senior from Omaha had missed the Bruins’ last nine games. In his first game back against Morningside College on Dec. 29, Tyler recorded 13 points and a game-high five assists.
Solid Stretch for Cruise
Jeremy Cruise is averaging 12.6 points in Bellevue’s last five games. During this recent stretch of games, the senior from St. Edward, Neb. is 20-37 (54 percent) from the field and 16-30 (53.3 percent) from three-point range. Overall this season, Cruise is scoring 8.6 points per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from behind the arc. Cruise also paces the team with 29 made three-pointers.
Up Next
The Bruins return home next week and will open conference play. BU will play host to Haskell Indian Nations on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. before playing No. 18 College of the Ozarks on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with the Bobcats.
This Week
The ninth-ranked Bellevue University men’s basketball team returns to action this week when they travel to Point Lookout, Mo. for the McDonald’s CAM JAM Basketball Classic hosted by College of the Ozarks. The Bruins will battle Cumberland University on Monday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. before playing against Belhaven University on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. with the Blazers.
Scouting Bellevue
Bellevue, winners of 10 of its last 11 games, is 12-2 overall and ranked No. 9 in NAIA Division II. The Bruins are coming off of a 66-62 win against sixth-ranked Briar Cliff University on Dec. 30 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Bruins return three letterwinners and two starters from last season’s 28-8 squad that captured the MCAC regular season and tournament titles, while advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
Eugene Bain leads BU in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Also averaging in double figures is Jelani Johnson (10.3 ppg, 4.0 apg and 1.6 spg). All-American Avery Tyler, who returned to action last week for the first time since suffering an injury against Morningside College on Nov. 6, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 ppg. Ousseynou Diop also adds 8.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg and leads the team with 51 blocked shots which ranks second in NAIA Division II. Jeremy Cruise leads the squad with 29 made three-pointers.
BU averages 80.2 points per game and shoot 47.4 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from behind the arc. The Bruins hold opponents to 65.6 points per game and 39.3 percent shooting.
Scouting Cumberland
Cumberland University is 3-5 overall and is coming off of an 86-65 exhibition loss at NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan College on Dec. 14.
The Bulldogs have two players averaging in double figures, and are led offensively by Walter Simon (12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Also averaging in double figures is Lindal Yarbrough (11.3 ppg, 4.1 apg). Lamar Brinkley leads CU on the glass, averaging 6.4 rebounds and 9.3 points per game.
CU scores 70.9 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. They give up 69.4 points per game and opponents shoot 44.5 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from behind the arc.
Scouting Belhaven
Belhaven University enters the week with a 7-6 overall record. In the Blazers’ last game, they defeated Rust College, 89-86, in Jackson, Miss. on Dec. 31.
The Blazers are led offensively by Rob Wallace, who leads the team with 21.5 ppg, 4.1 apg and 2.3 spg. Also averaging in double figures is Nathaniel Roche’ (13.3 ppg) and Daryl Arnold (11.6). Roche’ also is the team-leader in rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocked shots (27).
BU averages 78.0 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field. They shoot 33 percent from three-point range and 66.3 percent from the free-throw line. They limit opponents to 77.6 points per game and 42.9 percent shooting from the field.
Meet the Coaches
In his first two seasons at the helm of the Bellevue University men’s basketball program, Shane Paben has guided the Bruins to two consecutive trips to the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship, including a semifinal finish in 2010 and a quarterfinal appearance in 2009. He has a career mark of 64-19 (.771) at BU. He is assisted by Bob Ludwig, Jason Isaacson and Micah Stancil.
Cumberland is coached by Lonnie Thompson, now in his ninth season as the head coach. He has a career record of 144-117. Thompson is assisted by Brian Collins, Thurman Tucker and Reggie Nelson.
Tom Kelsey is in his sixth season as the head men’s basketball coach at Belhaven and has a record of 96-74. His assistant coaches include John Aiken and Zaveon Cooper.
National Rankings
Bellevue University remains ranked ninth in the latest NAIA Men’s Basketball Division II Coaches’ Poll, released on Monday., Dec. 13. Two other MCAC foes are also ranked in the coaches’ poll, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is second and College of the Ozarks is No. 18.
Block Party
Ousseynou Diop has blocked 51 shots this season which ranks second in NAIA Division II. He has totaled four or more blocks in his last four games and set a career-high with eight blocks versus Harris-Stowe on Nov. 12. In Diop’s first two seasons, he has led the team and the MCAC in blocked shots. For his career, Diop has swatted 153 shots.
Doubling Up
The frontcourt duo of Eugene Bain and Ousseynou Diop have accounted for all eight of the Bruins’ double-doubles this season. Bain has registered six while Diop has notched two double-doubles.
Tyler Returns to the Lineup
All-American Avery Tyler saw his first action of play last week after suffering an injury on Nov. 6. The senior from Omaha had missed the Bruins’ last nine games. In his first game back against Morningside College on Dec. 29, Tyler recorded 13 points and a game-high five assists.
Solid Stretch for Cruise
Jeremy Cruise is averaging 12.6 points in Bellevue’s last five games. During this recent stretch of games, the senior from St. Edward, Neb. is 20-37 (54 percent) from the field and 16-30 (53.3 percent) from three-point range. Overall this season, Cruise is scoring 8.6 points per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from behind the arc. Cruise also paces the team with 29 made three-pointers.
Up Next
The Bruins return home next week and will open conference play. BU will play host to Haskell Indian Nations on Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. before playing No. 18 College of the Ozarks on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with the Bobcats.