The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

January 2, 2009

Tough stretch begins today for No. 2 Mountain State

Cougars’ next three games are against ranked opponents

By Dave Morrison

After a couple of easy tune-ups to start the second half, NAIA Division I No. 2 Mountain State’s schedule gets increasingly tougher.

Over the next eight days, MSU will face No. 21 Lindsey Wilson and No. 1 Cumberlands (Tuesday night) before traveling to No. 13 Lee (next Saturday).

The testing starts today when MSU hosts Lindsey Wilson at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.

The Blue Raiders are 11-1 and have won 11 straight games after a season-opening 85-82 loss to Mid-Continent University.

“It’s a big, big, big game,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said. “Any time you’re going against a team that has won 11 straight (and) is nationally ranked, you know it’s a tough opponent. And Lindsey is plenty tough.”

And plenty big, according to Bolen.

The Blue Raiders have a height advantage inside, led by 6-foot-10 Paki Brown and 6-8 Andrija Tintor.

“It’s our toughest game to date,” Bolen said. “They have size and their big men are good shooters and they are athletic. At 6-10 and 6-8 they have a size advantage. And with Lindsey, they always execute well.”

Brown is averaging 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds and Tintor is averaging 8.4 and 4.4 rebounds for balanced-scoring Lindsey Wilson.

The Blue Raiders are led by 6-3 guard Eric McPherson, who averages 13.7 points per game.

Though they are not a high-scoring team per se (80.2 points per game), the Blue Raiders have eight players scoring more than six points per game and they are holding teams to just 54.6 points per game.

By contrast, MSU is averaging 95.6 games and has not been held below 100 points in nine games in Beckley. MSU gives up 70.4 points per game.

“They execute well and they will run when the opportunity is there,” Bolen said. “We have to control the tempo on the defensive end.”

Last year, Lindsey Wilson handed MSU one of its three losses. The other losses came to Lee and Oklahoma City in the NAIA national championship game.

MSU is coming off a pair of easy wins (127-32 over outmanned Ohio State Marion and 99-65 at Virginia Intermont) to start the second semester.

“I thought we played a tremendous second half at Intermont,” Bolen said. “I think we are starting to get our legs back under us. But this is a big test.”

Six players are averaging in double figures for MSU, led by guard A.J. Pigram who averages 18.7 points per game. Bo Harris is averaging 14.8, Andrew Lee 14.7 and Tony Brown 12.4. The fifth starter, Ermin Tarcin, is averaging 9.3.

Nick Aldridge is averaging 12.5 and Marcus Hunter 10.8 off the bench.

Greg Grimes, who injured an ankle in practice but is available for today’s game, is averaging 9.9 per game.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com

Text Only
Sports
  • Big12logo.jpg Getting to know the Big 12 Conference

    As West Virginia University moves into the Big 12 Conference, here's one place to come to find out about all of the Mountaineers new league opponents.

    April 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • WVU releases 2012 football schedule

    West Virginia University has released its football schedule for 2012.

    WVU announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.
     

    February 14, 2012

  • WVU settles Big East lawsuit

    West Virginia University announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July.
    Athletic Director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn’t release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.

    February 14, 2012

  • Shannon leads Woodrow win; Weiford 3 keys Spartans

    February 14, 2012

  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010