EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- On a day when Southern Illinois University Edwardsville set a school record for fewest points allowed in a game, it was Ryan Belcher who stole the show.
         Belcher netted a team-high 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and collected seven steals as the Cougars defeated Missouri-Rolla 62-29 Saturday at the Vadalabene Center.
         Belcher's seven steals set a new single-season record with 63 breaking the old mark of 62 set by Anthony Smith during the 1993-94 season. Belcher accomplishes the feat in just 16 games as the Cougars notched a season-high 20 steals in the game.
         SIUE's record goes to 13-3 overall and 7-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play as the Cougars held the Miners to 29 points. That is the lowest total for an opponent in school history and the lowest total for UM-Rolla since 1951. The previous lowest came on Feb. 1, 1983, as Parks Air College scored 32 points against SIUE at old Edwardsville High School gym.
         The Cougars own the GLVC's longest winning streak at nine games and have won 11 of their last 12 contests.
         The Miners fall to 2-15 overall as they lost for the 12th consecutive time. Missouri-Rolla is now 0-9 in conference play.
         Neither team had success shooting the basketball with the Cougars shooting 32.7 percent (18-55) from the field, and the Miners netted 21.4 percent (9-42) of their field goals.
         SIUE held Missouri-Rolla to just one field goal in the first 11:02 of the game as the Cougars went on a 15-4 run. SIUE led 30-11 at halftime, holding an opponent to less than 20 points in a half for the first time since giving up 16 points to Domincan (N.Y.) on Dec. 20, 2004.
         The Cougars began the second half on a 17-5 run as Justin Ward netted a three-pointer to give the Cougars a 47-16 lead with 11:30 to go in the game.
         Ward netted 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds as the Cougars outrebounded the Miners 42-36.
         Ty Johnson had 10 points, six steals, and four rebounds in the game. In just nine minutes played off the bench, Martel Mahon grabbed a career-high and team-leading nine rebounds for SIUE.
         The Cougars went 20-24 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line as the Miners hit 10 of 22 (45.5 percent) from the charity stripe.
         Steve Deken led the Miners with nine points and eight rebounds. Shea Wiemann collected 10 rebounds adding two points.
         SIUE heads to the road next week as the Cougars travel to Lewis on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and UW-Parkside on Saturday at 3 p.m.
                  -siue cougars-