SIUE Cougars (2-10, 0-0 OVC) 

vs. Lindenwood-Belleville Lynx (1-10, 0-5 AMC)

 

Sun., Dec. 29, 2:00 p.m.

First Community Arena (4,000)

Edwardsville, Illinois

 

LAST TIME OUT

SIUE fell to an eighth consecutive loss dropping an 81-55 decision Dec. 21 at Detroit Mercy. SIUE was just 4-20 from the field in the first half and was down 37-15 at the break. It was the lowest scoring half for the Cougars this season. Anselm Uzuegbunem led SIUE with a career-high 16 points, including 10 in the second half. He was 5-6 from the floor.

 

ROAD SHOW

Eight of SIUE's 13 nonconference games were on the road. The schedule included road games in seven different states. Besides Illinois, the Cougars have now played in California, Iowa, Michigan, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.

 

BARONE DEBUTS

Head Coach Brian Barone takes over at the top after two seasons as the Cougars' top assistant. He has previous Division I stops at Green Bay, Indiana, Marquette and Illinois State. He also brings junior college experience as a head coach and assistant. 

 

BARONE'S PEDIGREE

Brian's father is the late Tony Barone, Sr., who played at Duke before beginning his coaching career. After stops at Duke and Bradley as an assistant, Tony was the head coach at Creighton (1985-91) and Texas A&M (1991-1998). He also coached the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies during the 2006-07 season.

 

BARONE SIGNED THROUGH 2024

On November 13, SIUE Director of Athletics Tim Hall announced an extension of Head Coach Brian Barone's contract through the 2023-2024 season. 

 

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Unofficially, Barone is one of nine current Division I head coaches whose father also was a Division I head coach. The List:

Tony Bennett, Virginia (Dick Bennett)

Jeff Capel III, Pittsburgh (Jeff Capel II)

Kermit Davis, Jr., Mississippi (Kermit Davis, Sr.)

Scott Drew, Baylor (Homer Drew)

Mark Prosser, Western Carolina (Skip Prosser)

Richard Pitino, Minnesota (Rick Pitino)

Jay Spoonhour, Eastern Illinois (Charlie Spoonhour)

Kevin Willard, Seton Hall (Ralph Willard)