Published: December 04, 2007 01:06 am         

Cougars travel to WVU Tech

MONTGOMERY — Some pretty good NAIA basketball talent will be on display tonight at the Neal Baisi Athletic Center.

At 8 p.m., the WVU Tech Golden Bear men will lock horns with preseason NAIA No. 5 Mountain State University. That contest will be preceded by the Tech women, who advanced to last year’s national tournament, squaring off with defending NAIA champ Lambuth (Tenn.) University at 6 p.m.

Tech men’s coach Bob Williams says his squad, 4-4 following a runner-up finish in a tournament at Glenville State this past weekend, face a tall obstacle in the Cougars. MSU is 7-0 following an 100-89 conquest of host Union University Saturday.

“This is the best team they’ve had since they won it in 2004,” Williams said. “They’re well-coached, they’re very athletic and they’re very good defensively. For us, it’s like playing a low-major to mid-major program.

“They’re a legitimate national contender.”

Veteran MSU coach Bob Bolen isn’t ready for that kind of talk yet. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “It’s early. We are doing some things well.”

The Bears went 1-1 over the weekend, topping the GSC Pioneers 105-95 in the opener before falling to NCAA Division II No. 23 Fairmont State 87-85 in the championship tilt Saturday.

For the Bears, Sam Robertson and Brandon Moore were all-tournament picks. Moore, a 6-foot-4 senior, scored 20 and Robertson added 18 against the Falcons (6-0), while Robertson, a 6-6 junior, pumped in 24 and Moore 16 against Glenville.

Senior Brent Butler, who netted 25 against GSC, leads Tech with 21.4 points and 5.7 assists per outing. Robertson is averaging 18.6 ppg, while Moore is contributing about 11.0 ppg. Rounding out tonight’s starting lineup are senior Ronald Eskridge, who’s pulling down 7.7 caroms a night, and senior Jeraude Lowe.

About Tech, Bolen says, “They’ve got quick guards that can shoot, and they have a couple of tough post players. He (Williams) does a great job with them.”

MSU will field a starting five that includes 6-4 senior guard James Spencer, who’s averaging 27.2 ppg through six games, 6-foot senior guard Jarvis Jackson (10.3 ppg), 6-7 senior forward Tyrice Watkins (9.3 ppg), 6-4 senior guard Adron Marshall (15.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and 6-9 senior center Jason McGriff (8.7 ppg).

Williams’ Tech teams have been competitive for the most part with MSU in recent years, but a W has eluded the Bears. “We’ve played ‘em pretty close over the years, but we haven’t been able to beat them. They’re loaded this year, but we’re excited about the opportunity to play them.”

“Both games last year were very competitive,” counters Bolen. “Tech presents a great challenge.

“Our guys from last year know how tough they played us.”

On the heels of a first-ever defeat of Union at its home gym — a game which left Bolen pleased with his team’s overall effort — he says the key for his team remains obvious. “Effort on the defensive end and rebounding has to be consistent.”

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The Tech women, coached by Reggie Carrick, enter tonight’s contest against Lambuth with a 5-5 mark following a 67-53 setback at home to Hillsdale (Mich.) Saturday. Tech defeated Chowan 64-41 the previous night. “We had better individual talent but they (Hillsdale) played better together,” Carrick said of Saturday’s loss. “It’s a reoccurring theme with us. We have 2-3 young ladies who, when the going gets tough, try to take it on their backs. You can beat a bad team like that, but not a quality one. And we ran into a quality team.”

Lambuth, ranked 11th in the preseason poll, is 4-4 but has won three straight, the latest being a 90-35 conquest of Allen.

The Eagles, who play in the TransSouth Athletic Conference, topped Tech 98-76 in early November. Tech trailed just 41-37 at halftime. “It was a bit of a nightmare,” said Carrick, who noted that MU transfer Teyonka Hodge started at point against Lambuth but quit the squad at halftime. “That was a little disruptive, and we didn’t fully recover in the second half.”

A key for Lambuth in the first encounter was the play of 6-3 sophomore post Donna Lavea, who collected 25 points and 11 rebounds. “On the perimeter we match up pretty well. Our inside game was our strength last year but, all of a sudden, it’s a weakness. We’re getting outrebounded and pounded inside,” Carrick said.

Tech will be led by Kierra Wilkins (14.2 ppg, 3.1 spg), Shy Wright (13.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg), and Shantrelle Matthews (11.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg).

Admission for the doubleheader will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.

— E-mail:

skeenan@register-herald.com