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By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer
Trick or treat?
Bob Bolen is hoping for the later in Mountain State University’s Halloween matchup with visiting Bluefield College at 7 p.m. at the Raleigh County Armory.
His Cougars were inconsistent last weekend in two season-opening games at the Voorhees Tip-Off Classic in Denmark, S.C.
They muddled through a 79-64 decision over Brewton Parker, Ga., Friday, but played well in downing a good Trevecca Nazarene squad 103-83 Saturday.
“We played much better against Trevecca and I expect us to come out well tonight,” Bolen said. “But with a new team you have the unknown factor where the guys haven’t played much together.”
Mountain State graduated nearly its entire starting lineup from last year’s 29-3 team and must replace nine seniors.
Bolen, who led the Cougars to the 2004 NAIA national championship, is encouraged by his young team’s effort.
“I think we have hard workers. I like how we’re trying to get better as a team,” he said. “We’re much better than we were a month ago.”
Newcomer Ralph Legg, a 6-foot-1 guard from Spartansburg, S.C., led MSU in scoring in both wins at Voorhees.
Legg hit 11 of his 18 points during an early second-half run against Brewton-Parker, then erupted for 28 points against Trevecca Nazarene, an NAIA Sweet 16 team in 2005.
“Ralph is very explosive with the ball,” Bolen said. “He can score when he needs to, and he’s played two very solid games.”
Beyond Legg the scoring has been spread around for the Cougars. Yusef Baker, a 6-7 senior forward and the sole returning starter, tallied 17 points against Brewton-Parker.
Guard Aron Marshall chipped in 23 points against Trevecca Nazarene while Tyrice Watkins had 12 to cap a 32-point effort from the MSU bench.
The subs scored 22 points against Brewer-Parker.
“Our bench has come in and gave us a good contribution,” Bolen said. “We need to keep that up.”
Baker, who is averaging seven rebounds, will be joined in the starting lineup by Legg, Marshall, Watkins and Jarvis Jackson, who had 11 assists Saturday.
While the Cougars have two games under their belts, Bluefield College will make its 2006 debut.
Leading scorer Cedric Brown (21 points per game) and Rams’ all-time assist leader Anthony Hodges graduated from last year’s 19-14 club, which was the NAIA’s eighth-ranked team in scoring.
Sophomore forward Curtis Dixon (14.4 ppg), who scored 24 points in 18 minutes in a 97-74 loss to MSU, returns along with Johnny Witherspoon (3 ppg) at point guard and Laron Culmer (2 ppg) at center.
Power forward Robert Sharpe, a 6-7 senior who transferred in from NCAA Division II powerhouse Montevallo, should add firepower to the Rams’ attack.
“We’ve always had a hard-fought contest with Bluefield,” Bolen said. “They’re a solid program and an extremely athletic team.”
Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on WTNJ 105.9 FM.
— E-mail:
dstillwell@
register-herald.com |
