Published: January 12, 2008 12:11 am      

Cougars face tough task at Cumberlands

It’s an old cliché, but Mountain State coach Bob Bolen insists it’s true for his team’s game today with the University of the Cumberlands.

“You can throw out the records when you play up there,” the coach of the NAIA Division I top-ranked Cougars said Friday.

MSU (15-0) faces the Patriots (8-7) today in a 4 p.m. tilt in Williamsburg, Ky.

There is some good evidence backing up Bolen’s use of the old cliché.

In 2005, the Cumberlands beat MSU 72-65 at home. A couple weeks later, MSU pounded the Patriots 90-47 in Beckley.

In 2006, Mersad Terzic hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give MSU a 90-89 victory. MSU beat the Patriots 71-60 at home that year.

Last year, the Cumberlands beat Mountain State 91-86 at home but lost in Beckley 82-65.

So you can see why Bolen isn’t putting a lot of emphasis on Mountain State’s 79-62 win over the Patriots back in November.

The Cougars took a 24-2 lead and were never really challenged. In fact, they were outscored 60-55 from that point.

“Any time you go to the Cumberlands, it’s going to be a tough game,” Bolen said. “The facts are the facts. They have a good team. Look at their schedule, they have played some outstanding competition. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went on a run and made it to the national tournament. That’s how good I think the Cumberlands is.”

Adding to their arsenal, the Patriots will be playing their first game with JUCO All-America point guard Terrance Asmond (5-foot-9, 160-pound junior) running the show.

He will be joined by a trio of double-figure scorers, led by Josh Phillips (16.7), Chad Byron (14.0) and Luke Fitzgerald (10.9).

“Mike Gibson (6-7, 200) is a tremendous rebounder, Fitzgerald (6-6, 240) is a force in the post and Byron (6-2, 200) is shooting 54 percent from three-point range (38-of-71),” Bolen said. “You add an All-America point guard to that talent and that’s a very, very, very good team.”

That Mountain State comes in undefeated makes it a game Cumberlands can use to turn its season around.

“With the start we’ve had, we know we’re going to get everyone’s best shot,” Bolen said. “We have to be able to handle that. So far, we have. But this is going to be a strong test.”

MSU can match its best start in school history by winning its next five games, something Bolen hasn’t even thought about.

“All we’re concerned with is the Cumberlands,” he said. “I don’t know if our players even know that.”

The Cougars are “a little banged up,” according to their coach, but he anticipates having everyone available.

James Spencer leads the Cougars with a 25.3 average. Adron Marshall follows at 17.4 and Jason McGriff averages 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.

The other starters are point guard Jarvis Jackson (7.3 ppg and 6.3 assists) and Tyrice Watkins (8.4 points, 6.2 boards).

MSU returns home Tuesday night when it hosts WVU Tech at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com