Published: February 23, 2008 12:21 am         

‘This is as big as it gets’

The stakes rarely get as high as they’ll be today when No. 3 Mountain State (26-1) hosts No. 4 Lee (26-1) in the home finale at 4 p.m. at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

“As far as the regular-season goes, this is as big as it gets,” Mountain State coach Bob Bolen said. “It’s the first time two Top 5 teams have played (a college game at the convention center) and it’s the last home game. The timing, being the end of the season, probably adds to it.”

“This one is as big as we’ve played,” wing James Spencer said after the Cougars’ 109-70 win over Northwestern Ohio Thursday. “This is going to be a big one.”

Lee, out of Cleveland, Tenn., is coached by Tommy Brown, who is no stranger to Beckley. The former Bluefield College coach regularly brought his teams to Beckley.

“I knew when he took over that program that he would lead and build it into one of the top teams in the nation,” Bolen said. “At Bluefield, he had his teams in the Division II national tournament every year and he will do the same thing at Lee. I’m not surprised that they are where they’re at, not with Tommy as the coach.”

Of note locally, the Flames’ fifth-leading scorer and leading shot blocker (1.5 per game) is Harold Griffin, brother of former MSU standout Damien Griffin.

“They are solid in all aspects,” Bolen said of the Flames. “I’ve been watching tape of them and I can tell you they have great guard play.”

“They have great size. Their big men are 6-foot-7, 6-8 and 6-10. They are tremendous shooters. Five people are shooting over 42 percent from three-point (range).”

Lee is led by guard Brad Harris, who is averaging a team-high 16.1 points per game. The 6-2, 180-pound senior had an interesting summer, traveling with the U.S. National Team. In one game he had 26 points and West Virginia’s Darris Nichols, also on the team, had one point.

“He is one of the best guards in the nation,” Bolen said. “He had a great summer touring with the U.S. National Team. He is just an outstanding player.”

Other double figure scorers include 6-2, 195-pound Freddie Williams (11.6), 5-9, 155-pound Elmar Kuli-Zade (10.8) and 6-2, 180-pound Kellen Pickel (10.7).

Griffin, a 6-8, 245-pound junior center, averages 7.9 points, followed by 6-6, 200-pound Paco Diaw (7.9), 6-6, 230-pound Joe Fulp (7.6) and 6-5, 195-pound Rose Cole (7.5).

“We’re going to have to play a great game,” Bolen said. “We have to be solid on the defensive end of the court and step up and make big shots.”

MSU is led by Spencer, who leads the nation in scoring at 25.2 points per game.

Adron Marshall is the only other Cougar in double figures, at 17.1 points per game.

Other starters are 6-foot-10 Jason McGriff (9.8 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds), Jarvis Jackson (7.4 points and 5.6 assists) and Tyrice Watkins (7.5 points, 5.8 rebounds).

Coming off the bench early will be Ralph Legg (6.5 points), Ricky Jackson (5.4 points), Wrmin Tarcin (5.4 points) and Denzel Lyles (5.2 points).

The teams have played just one common opponent, Southern Wesleyan. The Flames beat SWU 91-79 at SWU while MSU beat Southern Wesleyan 88-47 and 83-49, both games at the convention center. One was in the Mountain State Coal Classic.

Bolen refused to put all of the team’s eggs in this one regular-season basket.

“I think it is something the fans can look forward to and I would think they are looking forward to seeing two tough teams being matched this late in the season,” he said. “It will definitely give us an idea of where we are and what we need to work on heading into postseason play.”

MSU beat Lee 77-71 last year in Beckley.

Lee has won five straight since losing to Auburn University Montgomery 69-67 and MSU has won two since falling to Lindsey Wilson 71-70.

The Cougars have won 42 in a row at the convention center.