Cougars Pound UMR for 20th Win

Box Score

February 11, 2006

         ROLLA, MO. - No. 18-ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville raced to its 20th victory on Saturday with an impressive 79-45 triumph at Missouri-Rolla.
         It is the fastest an SIUE men's basketball team has recorded 20 wins in a season and the second straight year the Cougars have eclipsed the 20-win mark. The 20-3 Cougars are now 13-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are in first place in the GLVC West Division. SIUE, ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region, holds a GLVC-leading 16-game winning streak.
         The previous fastest to 20 wins was 20-5 during the 1986-87 season. This is the sixth time SIUE has recorded 20 wins in a season.
         SIUE next challenges Quincy on the road, looking to avenge one of its three losses this season. Quincy defeated SIUE 54-49 at the Vadalabene Center on December 3. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pepsi Arena. SIUE will close out the regular season with home games against Southern Indiana (Feb. 18), Rockhurst (Feb. 23) and Drury (Feb. 25).
         On Saturday, the Cougars hit the game's opening shot on a Mike Hardiek jumper just 19 seconds into the game and never looked back. SIUE built up a 26-point lead by halftime 44-18 by hitting 50 percent of its shots and holding the Miners to 7 of 23 shooting.
         Five SIUE players finished in double figures.
         Ty Johnson and Doug Taylor led all scorers with 13 points each. Johnson hit three three-pointers while Taylor was 9 of 10 from the free throw line and added four blocks.
         J.B. Jones recorded 11 points and seven assists. Ryan Belcher scored 10 points and three steals. Hardiek picked up 10 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
         Missouri-Rolla struggled from the field again in the second half, hitting 10 of 40 shots and 1 of 8 from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Cougars shot an even 50 percent again, handing the Miners their 18th consecutive loss.
         Missouri-Rolla's Tyrone Davidson was his team's leading scorer with 12 points off the bench. Davidson shot 3 of 13 from the field but hit 6 of 7 shots from the free throw line.
                  -siue cougars-

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Players Mentioned

#10 Ryan Belcher: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#34 Mike Hardiek: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#3 Ty Johnson: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#22 J.B. Jones: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#55 Doug Taylor: C; 6' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#10 Ryan Belcher
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#34 Mike Hardiek
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#3 Ty Johnson
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#22 J.B. Jones
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#55 Doug Taylor
: 6' 9"; Sophomore
: C