Published: December 01, 2007 12:31 am         

MSU-Union features top scorers in NAIA

James Spencer, meet Matt Neaville.

Shake hands and come out scoring!

The NAIA’s top two individual point producers will go head-to-head at 5 p.m. today as Mountain State University travels to Jackson, Tenn., to face Union University.

MSU’s Spencer, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, ranks second among NAIA Division I players with a 27.2 points per game average.

Neaville, a 6-foot junior guard, answers with a 30.2 average for the Bulldogs. He’s also No. 1 in 3-point field goals made (6.5 per game).

But what worries MSU 13th-year coach Bob Bolen is that everyone on Union shoots well.

“They attempt more threes than anybody in the country right now,” Bolen said. “And they’re shooting 40 percent as a team.”

Traditionally, Union has been known for its power game. The Bulldogs still have some size in 6-foot-6 senior forward Ryan Merriman (9.3 ppg and 11.8 rebounds) and 6-6 junior Brian Lake (17.8/10.3).

But all five Union starters are fearless from beyond the arc.

“About 45 percent of their shots are 3-point attempts,” Bolen said. “We’ll really have to play great defense on the perimeter.”

The other Bulldog starters are 6-1 junior guard Tony Brown (17.0 ppg) and 6-3 sophomore forward Tacuma Alexander (11.5).

Union (4-2), ranked No. 19 in the NAIA preseason poll, is outscoring opponents 92.5-87.2.

The Bulldogs’ only losses were both in overtime, 88-82 to No. 15 Oklahoma Baptist and 98-97 to William Carey (Miss.).

Mountain State brings some offensive might of its own to the contest.

The No. 5 Cougars are unbeaten in six games and have outscored foes 92.7-64.2.

They’re atop the NAIA in assist-turnover ratio (1.86 per game), second in assists (23.83) and third in blocks (5.5).

Adron Marshall, a 6-4 senior guard, is scoring at a 15.2 clip while point guard Jarvis Jackson checks in at 10.3 ppg.

Jackson also averages 6.8 assists per game, third-best in the NAIA.

Tyrice Watkins, a 6-7 senior forward (9.3 ppg/6.8 rebounds) and 6-9 senior center Jason McGriff (8.7/6) round out the MSU lineup.

“We’ve been playing well, but we’ve been off since Saturday,” Bolen said. “It’s going to take a great, great effort (against Union).”

MSU won the last meeting between the schools, 83-67 last Jan. 22 in Beckley. Reserve guard Ralph Legg scored 23 points to pace the win while Lake had 19 for Union.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, they’re 0-3 at Fred Delay Gymnasium.

“It’s a place we’ve never won, so it’s a good chance for our new guys to do something nobody’s been able to do before,” Bolen said.

The game is the first of five consecutive road games in December.

MSU plays at WVU Tech Tuesday and returns to Montgomery Dec. 8-9 for the Baisi Classic.

The Cougars’ next home game is at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, against Ohio State-Marion.

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com