Published: February 21, 2009 12:18 am      

Cougars host ‘rival’ Lee today

This is indeed big news.

The Mountain State-Lee University game today at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center is actually the NAIA game of the week.

When MSU was No. 1 and Cumberland No. 2, that game didn’t even make game of the week status.

So obviously, this game will have some other eyes and ears tuned in around the nation.

But as far as MSU coach Bob Bolen is concerned, it is a big game regardless.

In fact, he went so far as to call it a “rivalry” when asked about the game’s meaning. And for several different reasons.

“There are a lot of Lee graduates in this area who attend the Family Worship Center (which is based at Lee University),” Bolen said. “Tommy (Brown, Lee’s coach) started his career 40 minutes down the road at Bluefield and we’ve played them forever. And on top of that, they are one of the top teams in the nation, a real national championship contender. There are a lot of ties to this area, and when you add everything together, it is a big day for Mountain State at the convention center.”

You could also add that Lee was the only team to beat the Cougars at the convention center last year, and MSU went on to the national title game.

The latest meeting between the two nationally ranked schools — MSU is No. 5, Lee is No. 19 — ended with the Cougars eking out a 82-75 victory at Lee on Jan. 10.

“We played our best game of the year (in that game),” Bolen said.

“It was a three-point game with 30 seconds left and it was close the whole way. We shot the ball well, we made good decisions at the end of the game and we made free throws. We will need a better performance this time.”

The Flames enter the game with a record of 20-6 and may have a little something to prove after the loss Jan. 10.

“I know this about Lee,” Bolen said. “Tommy always has his teams well prepared. I expect the game to be played at a high level and I hope that the fans will come out and support us.”

It will be FCA Day, with a rally featuring former Harlem Globetrotter Seth Franco putting on a basketball display. Everyone attending the rally, which begins at 3 p.m., will receive a free game ticket. The game tips at 4 p.m.

Lee certainly has a talented arsenal of weapons, led by 5-foot-9 senior guard Elmar Kuli-Zade, who is averaging 14.5 points per game. He is hitting nearly 50 percent from the three-point arc (59-of-119).

Georgia Tech transfer Paco Diaw (6-7 senior forward) is averaging 10.4 points and Stephen McClellan (6-1 sophomore guard) 10.1.

Then there is Harold Griffin (6-7 senior forward), the brother of former MSU standout Damien Griffin, who is averaging 8.7 and Nate Minnoy (6-4, 270-pound senior forward) who is hitting for 9.5 ppg.

“Kuli-Zade is quick and runs the team well and he can really shoot the basketball,” Bolen said. “Diaw plays well above the rim and is able to score off the dribble. Griffin is rugged inside. What I’m saying is this is one of the best teams in the nation. We know we have our hands full.”

For Mountain State (23-3), Andrew Lee — aptly named for this battle of titans — has been doing it all for the Cougars, leading the team in scoring (16.4) and rebounding (7.6), as well as steals and blocked shots. He had 24 points in a win over Southern Wesleyan Thursday night, including a 14-of-20 showing at the free throw line.

A.J. Pigram averages 15.7, Nick Aldridge 15.4, Bo Harris 12.4 and Tony Brown 10.4.

Marcus Hunter is hitting for 9.8 and Ermin Tarcin 9.3 for the Cougars, who lead nation in scoring at 96.8 points per game.

MSU has topped 100 points 14 times this season, including its last two games.

MSU has two home games remaining this season — a tussle with Pikeville next Thursday (7 p.m.) and a 4 p.m. game next Saturday with Allen.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com