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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri State announces ticket plans for Arkansas & Oregon games

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Missouri State University has announced ticket plans for its two games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents Arkansas and Oregon.

Seats for both games will be located in the visiting fan section and will be available for purchase beginning Monday, July 25.  Fans may visit the Chevy Pickup Window at the Missouri State Athletics Box Office in JQH Arena or call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849. During the summer months, MSU Tix operates Monday through Friday from Noon to 5 p.m.

Individual tickets for the Bears’ season opener at Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 3 (6 p.m.) in Fayetteville are $45 each and will be available until August 18 or when all tickets are sold.

Single-game tickets for the Bears’ trip to Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 17 (2:30 p.m., CT) in Eugene are $35 apiece.

Season tickets for the Bears’ four home contests at Plaster Field are also available, starting at just $50. Additional discounts are available for Missouri State faculty and staff as well as seniors.

— MSU Sports Information —

Big 12 announces Big Monday schedule on ESPN

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The Big 12 Conference has announced its schedule on ESPN’s Big Monday platform for the 2012 conference season, highlighting a slate that will include more than 100 games on the ESPN family of networks.

The continuation of the long-standing and popular arrangement with ESPN will tip off with a unique Martin Luther King Jr. doubleheader for the second consecutive season.  Four Big 12 teams will be in action, starting with Texas A&M at Missouri at 4:30 p.m. The second Big 12 contest that day will have Baylor traveling to Kansas.  All four squads are expected to be in contention for NCAA bids this season.

Kansas will make its second consecutive Big Monday appearance when it hosts the Aggies on January 23.  The Jayhawks posted a 64-51 victory in College Station a year ago.  Missouri travels to Texas on January 30 after the Longhorns recorded a 71-58 win in Austin last season.

The Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M will take place in Reed Arena on February 6, followed by another hard-fought rivalry when Kansas travels to Kansas State on February 13.  Both long-running matchups will take place as part of ESPN’s “Rivalry Week”.  UT won all three meetings with the Aggies a year ago, while the Sunflower State rivals split their games in 2010-11.

Baylor will play at Texas on February 20 in a series in which the teams have split the last six contests.  KU heads to Stillwater on February 27 to face Oklahoma State to conclude the Big Monday slate.  The Cowboys came away with an 85-77 win in the Jayhawks’ last visit to Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Big 12 led the nation in non-conference winning percentage a year ago and had at least seven 20-win squads for the fourth consecutive campaign.  The league has earned 24 NCAA bids in the past four seasons and 42 since 2004 – all by teams that will compete in the Big 12 in 2011-12.  The full composite conference schedule, including games on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Big 12 Network and ESPN’s College GameDay, will be released in the coming weeks.

2012 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Schedule On ESPN’s Big Monday
All games televised on ESPN and available on ESPN3.com

Date     Game     Time (CT)
January 16       Texas A&M at Missouri      4:30 p.m.
Baylor at Kansas                    8:30 p.m.
January 23      Texas A&M at Kansas           8:00 p.m.
January 30      Missouri at Texas                  8:00 p.m.
February 6       Texas at Texas A&M             8:00 p.m.
February 13    Kansas at Kansas State         8:00 p.m.
February 20    Baylor at Texas                       8:00 p.m.
February 27    Kansas at Oklahoma State   8:00 p.m.

— Big12Sports.com —

St. Louis salvages final games of series against Mets

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On a sweltering get-away day at Citi Field, Jake Westbrook helped his teammates beat the heat — and the New York Mets.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first and Westbrook had the Mets pounding the ball into the ground over eight excellent innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat New York 6-2 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid.

With the temperature already at 90 when the first pitch was thrown at 12:13 p.m., Westbrook (8-4) worked efficiently (90 pitches) and rapidly and kept his infielders busy. Just as important, he let them quickly get back to the dugout and out of the scorching sun.

“That’s the way he works all the time. This guy don’t mess around,” Pujols said. “Working fast, keeping the ball down. He had his sinker going today.”

Westbrook recorded 17 outs on ground balls, including two double plays, and allowed only four hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out three, leading the Cardinals to only their second win since the All-Star break in a tidy 2 hours, 7 minutes.

“I think everybody appreciated it,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Pujols drove a pitch from Jonathon Niese (9-8) left up in the strike zone off the facade of the second deck in left field for his 21st home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.

What was the pitch Pujols sent flying?

“To tell you the truth, I don’t even know,” Pujols said. “I think it was the same pitch I pulled fouled earlier in the at-bat.”

Westbrook, who came in with an ERA of 5.26 in his first full season with St. Louis, breezed through the first three innings.

“My stuff was the same. My command was better,” he said. “I was able to harness it.”

The Mets managed to get only one ball out of the infield against the sinkerballer as he retired the first nine batters.

Jose Reyes put an end to that. The majors’ leading hitter led off the fourth with his league-leading 16th triple, a drive high off the wall in left center. Justin Turner followed with a grounder to short that cut the lead to 2-1.

The Cardinals came right back with three in the fifth, with the help of some shoddy Mets defense.

After a double by No. 8 hitter Daniel Descalso and a walk to the pitcher, Nick Punto grounded wide of first base. First baseman Lucas Duda fielded the hopper, but his throw to second glanced off Westbrook’s left shoulder and into the outfield, allowing a run to score.

Jon Jay followed with a ground-ball single up the middle that hit second base to drive in one run, and center fielder Angel Pagan gave the Cardinals another run when he threw behind Jay at first — with nobody covering for the Mets. Though St. Louis first-base coach Dave McKay was in perfect position to field the toss, he let it skid toward the dugout.

The stray throw allowed Punto to score all the way from first and make it 5-1.

Niese tossed six innings and allowed five hits and three earned runs. He struck out seven, including Matt Holliday three times.

Jason Pridie cut the lead to 5-2 for the Mets with an RBI single in the eighth, but Skip Schumaker answered with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth.

Carlos Beltran played what could turn out to be his final home game with the Mets. The All-Star outfielder is in the last year of a seven-year contract and there has been seemingly endless speculation about New York trading him before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The Mets won’t return to Citi Field until Aug. 1.

“Right now, he’s hitting third tomorrow in Miami,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Beltran struck out, drew a walk to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 27 games and grounded out to second in his first three times up. Before his final at-bat in the ninth inning, the crowd of 37,416 at Citi Field gave Beltran an extended warm ovation, with many standing as he walked to the plate.

“He deserves the response the fans gave him,” Collins said.

With one out and one on, Beltran hit a lazy fly to left field off reliever Mitchell Boggs and walked back to the dugout to a smattering of applause.

“I heard the fans cheering,” Beltran said. “It was great. Let’s hope I can come back.”

— Associated Press —

K-State’s Hartman up for AFCA Good Works Team

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Kansas State senior defensive back Tysyn Hartman is one of 56 student-athletes from FBS institutions to be named a candidate for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the organization has announced. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation.

A two-time captain for the Wildcats, Hartman has found success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Hartman has accumulated 189 career tackles, including 86 last season to rank second on the team. He has also intercepted seven career passes while breaking up seven others.

The Wichita, Kan., product is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a two-time Academic All-District VII pick. Hartman carries a cumulative GPA of 3.588, and is currently enrolled in graduate school after obtaining his bachelor’s degree last December.

Hartman has also been a contributor in the Manhattan community as he has taken part in numerous service activities. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Hartman has participated in Read to Achieve, a partnership between K-State Athletics and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School; adopt-a-family, a program through the Flint Hills Breadbasket and Salvation Army to assist families during the holiday season; Special Olympics and retirement center visitations among others.

This year marks the program’s 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their good works in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considers the sport’s pre-eminent community service award.

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members will selected two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprising of players from the FBS and another representing players from the FCS, Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in late September.

Coming off an appearance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Kansas State opens the 2011 campaign on September 3 against Eastern Kentucky with the third-annual K-State Family Reunion.

— KSU Sports Information —

Royals rally past White Sox and win in 11 innings

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Alex Gordon informed Kansas City Royals third base coach Eddie Rodriguez he was alert for a wild pitch with two outs in the 11th inning.

Gordon got what he was looking for.

Sergio Santos threw a wild pitch that allowed Gordon to score, giving the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory Wednesday night.

Billy Butler swung at a slider in the dirt that got away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski and Gordon raced home and scored with a headfirst slide to give the Royals their 10th win in the final at-bat.

“I told Eddie I knew they were going to pitch Billy tough with splitters and sliders,” Gordon said. “I told him if I get anything close to a wild pitch I’m going. Once I saw it get away from Pierzynski a little bit, I was off.”

Chris Sale (2-1) retired the first two batters before walking Gordon, who went to third on Mitch Maier’s single. Santos then replaced Sale.

The White Sox managed just five hits — four singles and Carlos Quentin’s home run — off starter Bruce Chen and relievers Joakim Soria and Aaron Crow.

“We win that game because of Chen and our bullpen keeps us in the game,” Gordon said. “They really won the game for us.”

Crow (3-2) worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, for the victory.

The Royals threatened in the 10th with runners on second and third and two outs, but rookie Mike Moustakas, who is in an 0-for-22 slump, popped up to second baseman Gordon Beckham to end the inning.

White Sox starter John Danks yielded five singles in seven scoreless innings and left with a 1-0 lead that the bullpen failed to hold. Danks walked one, struck out six and did not allow a Royals player to reach third base.

Danks was making his first start since June 25 when he left in the second inning against Washington with a strained right oblique and went on the disabled list. After starting the season 0-8 with a 5.25 earned run average, Danks is 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA in his past five starts.

Royals left-hander Bruce Chen held the White Sox hitless for the first four innings before Quentin led off the fifth with his 19th home run. Quentin hit a 1-0 pitch just a few feet inside the foul pole. Quentin was hit by a pitch from Chen in the second inning. He has been hit by 20 pitches, tops in the American League.

That would be the only run Chen would allow in eight innings. He yielded three singles besides Quentin’s home run, walked two, struck out four and hit three batters.

“Bruce was phenomenal,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He was in and out, changing speeds. Quentin hit a good pitch. He golfed it out.”

The Royals tied the score in the eighth off relievers Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain. Gordon led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on Butler’s single to center and scored on Jeff Francoeur’s double to center with one out. After Eric Hosmer was walked intentionally to load the bases, Crain struck out Brayan Pena. Sale was brought in to face Moustakas, who grounded out to Paul Konerko to end the inning.

The Royals have won two straight, but still have the worst record (40-58) in the American League.

“We’re too good of a team to be 20 games below .500,” Francoeur said.

The White Sox scored only three runs in 20 innings in losing the final two games to the Royals.

“This team is one day we’re good, three days we’re bad,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We don’t have any energy in the dugout. … We’re going to Cleveland and the way we’re going there, good luck. We’re wasting our money. That’s all I have to say. That’s the ballclub we have all year long.”

Juan Pierre’s bunt single in the White Sox sixth extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his season high.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals blow 4-0 lead and fall to Mets

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Every time he connects at the plate, Carlos Beltran looks more attractive to those playoff contenders interested in trading for him.

What his New York Mets teammates would really like, however, is to make their own run at October with Beltran by their side.

“What’s the option, give up? Let us take it down a different path? We want to make it hard for the front office,” starting pitcher R.A. Dickey said.

Beltran hit a tying home run and Angel Pagan won it with a 10th-inning drive as New York rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the sputtering St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Wednesday night.

Beltran, who can become a free agent after the season, is at the center of trade talk all around baseball. The switch-hitting slugger is perhaps the biggest prize available on the market as the July 31 non-waiver deadline approaches.

“Not really thinking about it. I hear what you hear, but I have to prepare myself and help the team any way I can,” he said. “I cannot assume anything right now. Nobody’s talked to me. Nobody’s said anything to me.”

Beltran hit a two-run shot and new father Josh Thole had two RBIs for the Mets (49-48), including a tying single off Jason Motte with two outs in the eighth.

Albert Pujols was not in the St. Louis starting lineup, rested against Dickey’s knuckleball with a scorching day game on deck Thursday. But the Cardinals built a 4-0 lead for Kyle McClellan, who is 0-5 with a 5.48 ERA in his last eight starts.

Matt Holliday had three hits and two RBIs for St. Louis. Locked in a tight race near the top of the NL Central, the Cardinals have dropped four of five since the All-Star break.

“You’ve got to finish out games and we haven’t been able to do that very well,” Holliday said. “We’ve got two months left, 2½ months left. So yeah, you’ve got to start winning games. I mean, you’re not going to win the division and accomplish your goals losing. But at the same time, you don’t panic and start doubting yourself.”

The teams are back at it Thursday at 12:10 p.m., with expected temperatures in the mid-90s accompanied by sweltering humidity.

Pagan connected on the first pitch from Fernando Salas (5-4), hitting a drive off the facing of the second deck in right field for his first career game-ending homer.

“Fastball, right down Broadway,” Pagan said.

Right after he connected, Pagan pumped his fist and watched the ball fly as he tossed his bat aside. When he returned to home plate, he was mobbed by teammates in a joyous celebration.

“I can’t hit a ball any harder than that,” said Pagan, happy that his family was in the crowd. “You want to be a role model for your kids. It’s great for them to see something like this.”

Jason Isringhausen (2-0), also potential trade bait, worked two scoreless innings for the win — one night after notching his 294th career save and first this season. Facing his former team, the veteran right-hander struck out Pujols, Holliday and Lance Berkman in succession.

“That was a strange game in some ways,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “At the end of the game we did a lot of chasing, which is not our style.”

Pujols entered as a pinch-hitter with a runner on third and two outs in the seventh. He fouled out against reliever Pedro Beato, keeping the score tied at 4, and remained in the game at first base.

Backup catcher Gerald Laird put St. Louis ahead in the eighth with a savvy bunt single.

“I’ve done that a few times,” Laird said. “We had plenty of chances to win the game today, we just didn’t get it done.”

A throwing error by shortstop Daniel Descalso on a tough play allowed Pagan to reach safely leading off the bottom of the inning. He scored from third when Thole lined Motte’s second pitch to left.

With two outs in the fifth and the Mets down 4-2, Beltran worked an eight-pitch at-bat against McClellan and sent a two-run shot soaring deep into the second deck in right field for his 15th homer.

Five innings later, the Mets completed the comeback.

“He’s a human being,” manager Terry Collins said about Beltran. “He’s dealt with it before. In his heart, he wants to be here. It’s where he wants to play.”

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western announces 2011 Hall of Fame class

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Missouri Western State University will induct three individuals and two teams into its Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Saturday, October 8. Two coaches, a former Griffon football player and two men’s teams will be honored during the Wendy’s Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.

The 2011 inductees are Jerry Partridge, Jeff Mittie, Kasey Waterman, the 1989-1990 men’s basketball team and the 1997 men’s golf team.

Jerry Partridge – Football – (1997-Present)

Griffon football’s sixth head coach became the program’s winningest coach in 2006 and currently holds a 103-59 overall record. Partridge leads all active MIAA coaches in wins and is third on the all-time conference list.

During his 14 year tenure, the Griffons have reached the post-season eight times, including six consecutive trips from 2005-2010. Partridge led the team to its only two NCAA Division II Playoff berths in 2006 and 2010. In 2003, Western won a share of its only MIAA championship.

Partridge was named MIAA Co-Coach of the year in 2000, and has coached an MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, four MIAA Freshman of the Year and has had over 200 players named All-MIAA. Partridge has also coached 18 All-Americans, and led the Griffons to a school record nine wins five times in the last eight years.

After winning three letters as a defensive back for the Griffons, Partridge began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western in 1985. He also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Missouri, and was a graduate assistant on Lou Holtz’s 1988 Notre Dame National Championship staff.

Partridge returned to Western and served as Stan McGarvey’s defensive coordinator and also had defensive coaching stints at Murray State and Austin Peay before being named head coach at his alma mater in 1997.

Jeff Mittie – Women’s Basketball – (1992-1995)

Jeff Mittie was 76-17 in three seasons at the helm of the Griffon Women’s Basketball program. Mittie was twice named MIAA Coach of the Year, first in 1994 after the Griffons went 16-0 in conference play, and again in 1995 after going 15-1 in the MIAA.

Two of Mittie’s squads set program records for wins; 29 in 1993-94 and 31 in 1994-95. Both teams were MIAA regular season champs and the 1995 team won the MIAA tournament. Mittie’s 1994 and 1995 squads won NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships, and in 1995 the Griffons won two games in the Elite Eight, finishing the season ranked third in the nation.

Under Mittie’s tutelage, Tonya Foster and Amy Towne were named All-Conference, All-Region and All-America selections during their careers. Both Foster and Towne set school records for single-season points scored, field goal percentage and blocked shots. They also set marks for career field goal percentage and blocked shots. Seven squad members picked up Academic All-MIAA honors and two snagged GTE/College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District VII accolades. Before assuming the head coaching duties, Mittie served one season as assistant basketball and baseball coach at Western. Mittie is currently in his 12th year at the helm of the Texas Christian University women’s basketball team. He is the Horned Frogs all-time wins leader and has been named conference coach of the year five times.

Kasey Waterman – Football – (1998-2001)

A record-setting quarterback from 1998-2001, Kasey Waterman currently holds or has held 13 different school passing and offensive records and five MIAA records.

A four-year starter for the Griffons, Waterman currently holds school marks for passing  touchdowns, pass yards per game, total offense per game, pass attempts in a season and passing touchdowns in a season, as well as several other single game and season records. Waterman left Western as the MIAA’s All-Time leader in career passing yards, pass completions and touchdown passes. He was named the 1998 MIAA Co-Freshman of the Year and received All-MIAA honors all four years. In 2000, Waterman led the Griffons to an 8-1 conference record and the programs first postseason berth in 21 years.

Waterman is currently the Athletic Director and head girl’s track coach at Northgate Middle School in North Kansas City.  He has also served as an assistant football coach at North Kansas City High School where five of his quarterbacks have earned college football scholarships. He and his wife Camilla currently reside in St. Joseph with their two sons, Kayden and Cooper.

1989-1990 Men’s Basketball Team

Missouri Western’s first NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball team went 24-7 and won the MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Titles in their inaugural year in the league and advanced to the second round of the NCAA South Central Regional in their first tournament appearance.

In head coach Tom Smith’s second year at Western, the Griffons defeated Central Missouri 66-63 to win the first of four MIAA tournament championships in school history. Western advanced to the South Central Regional, defeating West Texas State 73-71 before falling to Southeast Missouri State 88-73 in the second round.

Current Hall of Fame members Mike Cornelius and Mark Bradley were instrumental to the teams’ success as Cornelius was named a third team All-American and Bradley earned All-MIAA Honors.  Western’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made, Heath Dudley also was a member of the team.  Dudley is also the Griffons all-time leader in games played, and is fifth in free throws attempted, fourth in free throw percentage and sixth in career scoring.

1996-1997  Men’s Golf Team

Winners of five out of eight regular season tournaments, the 1996-1997 Griffon Men’s Golf Team was the first and only Griffon golf team to compete in an NCAA National Golf Tournament, winning the NCAA West Regional and finishing 15th overall.

The team won the Missouri-Rolla Classic, the Missouri Southern Crossroads of America Classic, the Drury Comfort Inn Classic, the University of Missouri-St. Louis Riverman Invitational, the Lincoln University Invitational and on the second playoff-hole became NCAA West Regional Champions at the St. Joseph Country Club defeated Central Oklahoma in a playoff.

The team joins the 1994 and 1995 women’s basketball teams as the only NCAA Regional Champions in any sport in Missouri Western history. Coach Mike Habermehl’s team included Mark Korell (Honorable Mention All-American, 74.9 stroke average), Chris Weddle (75.1 stroke average), Erin Hatcher (75.8 stroke average), Joel Wilhite (76.7 stroke average) and Kyle Sinclair (78.3 stroke average).  Korell, Weddle and Sinclair all hail from St, Joseph while Wilhite is a native of Chillicothe and Hatcher from Savannah.

2011 Wendy’s Hall of Fame Weekend Schedule of Events:

Reception: Friday, October 7 – 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Fulkerson Center on the campus of Missouri Western University.

Induction Ceremony Brunch: Saturday, October 8 – 11:00 AM-1:00 PM – Fulkerson Center.

If you would like to attend the Induction Ceremony Brunch please RSVP to 271-4481 by October 1. Cost of the brunch is $20.00.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Big 12 releases media preseason football poll

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Oklahoma was chosen to repeat as Big 12 champion in the 2011 Big 12 Football Preseason Poll, voted on by media representatives who cover the Conference.

The Sooners received 41 first-place votes and totaled 428 points. A narrow gap of two points separated the next two positions as Texas A&M finished in second with one first-place vote and 362 points. Oklahoma State was picked third, also garnering a first-place vote and registering 360 points.

OU, OSU and TAMU tied for the South division title in 2010 – the final season of division standings.

Missouri (281 points) and Texas (265 points) rounded out the top five of the preseason poll. The Tigers tied for the North division title last season.

Oklahoma leads the Big 12 with seven Conference championships (2000, ’02, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08 and ’10). The Sooners were picked first in the South division nine times in previous media preseason polls and finished the season at the top in six of those years.

Head coaches and selected student-athletes will converge in Dallas from July 25-26 for the annual Big 12 Football Media Days. Live video coverage, including press conferences and one-on-one interviews with a variety of guests, will be featured both days on Big12Sports.com.

Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll
1.     Oklahoma             (41)   428
2.     Texas A&M           (1)     362
3.     Oklahoma State  (1)     360
4.     Missouri                           281
5.     Texas                                 265
6.     Baylor                               194
7.     Texas Tech                     191
8.     Kansas State                   140
9.     Iowa State                       93
10.     Kansas                            51

— Big12sports.com —

Western men add two more junior college players

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Missouri Western men’s basketball coach Tom Smith has announced the signing of two more junior college transfers to the National Letter of Intent for next season. Shawn Tarver and Dylan Frantz will join the squad for the 2011-2012 season.

Shawn Tarver, Jr. a 6-foot-8 forward will transfer in from McCook Community College. He played his high school basketball at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Ind.  At McCook, Tarver averaged 9 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. He was a captain of his squad, named Team MVP and earned 1st team All-conference honors. Tarver plans on majoring in physical education at Western.

“Shawn is a forward whose style of play really fits our program on both ends of the floor,” commented Coach Smith. “He is a tremendous defender and rebounder and on the offensive end can score on the block or can face the basket and stretch the defense. At McCook he was a leader both on and off the floor and I look for him to contribute to our program in that capacity as well.”

Dylan Frantz a 6-foot-2 guard transfers to Western from Hutchinson Community College. Frantz played his high school basketball at Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg, Kan. He was an Honorable Mention All-State selection after averaging 18 points per game his senior season at Phillipsburg. Last season, at Hutchinson he played in 33 games with 23 starts helping them to a 26-7 overall record.

“Frantz is a tough hardnosed player with high character,” stated Coach Smith. “Has the type of work ethic and attitude that will be a great addition to our team and program.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri State releases non-conference men’s basketball schedule

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A solid non-conference schedule awaits Missouri State men’s basketball coach Paul Lusk in his first year with the program. The Bears’ new sideline boss, who will have the opportunity to play four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year, released the team’s non-conference slate Wednesday (July 20). In all, MSU will play no fewer than 11 opponents that saw postseason tournament action a year ago.

“We are very pleased with the balance of our non-conference schedule,” Lusk said. “Our fans will get a chance to see a Big 12 opponent come to JQH Arena, we’ll see some impressive teams in Las Vegas, and we will be tested with some quality opponents on the road. From a coach’s standpoint, you want a schedule that gets your team ready for conference play, and this will certainly do that.

Lusk noted that the team is still seeking one additional non-conference opponent for a November home game.

Including the open home date and the Sears BracketBusters game (Feb. 17-19), the Bears will play six non-conference opponents at JQH Arena this season. Tulsa (Nov. 26) and Oklahoma State (Dec. 7) come to town during the early portion of the season before visits from Kennesaw State (Dec. 17) and Corpus Christi (Dec. 19) in the preliminary round of the 11th Annual iBN Sports Las Vegas Classic.

The eight-team Las Vegas Classic field also includes West Virginia, Baylor, Saint Mary’s, Bethune-Cookman and Tennessee Tech. Both Baylor and West Virginia were NCAA Tournament teams last season, while St. Mary’s was in the NIT. Each team in the tournament will play four games, including the first two at campus sites and the final two rounds at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, December 22-23.

Missouri State will open the regular season at Nevada (Nov. 11) in a return game from the 2010 BracketBusters series. The Bears will have a short turn-around before going to Arkansas State (Nov. 15). The club will then return to JQH Arena for a pair of home games with the open date Nov. 19-22 and the Nov. 26 visit from Tulsa before closing out the month at Oral Roberts (Nov. 30).

December begins with a trip to New Mexico and a date with former MSU head coach Steve Alford in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge on Dec. 3. The Bears are 1-0 all-time in the MWC-MVC Challenge and will be playing the Lobos for just the second time (1962).

From Albuquerque, the Bears return home for the Oklahoma State game on Dec. 7 and then take a trip to 2011 NCAA Tournament participant Arkansas-Little Rock. MSU will then close out December with the Las Vegas Classic before beginning conference play.

The Missouri Valley Conference is expected to release its schedule in late August. The 2011-12 league slate will again feature home-and-home games with the other nine MVC foes. Including Missouri State, six MVC teams participated in postseason tournaments in 2011, including Indiana State in the NCAA and Wichita State, which won the National Invitation Tournament.

The State Farm MVC Tournament will take place March 1-4 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

Of the Bears’ 13 potential non-conference foes, six finished with an RPI in the top 100 last season, including West Virginia (21), St. Mary’s (53), Oklahoma State (58), New Mexico (71), Tulsa (84), and Baylor (95). Of those, only Tulsa did not participate in a postseason tournament. Additionally, UALR (196) was an NCAA Tournament team, while Oral Roberts (135) played in the CIT.

The club will also have a rare opportunity to play three preseason exhibition games this season, all against in-state foes. Lusk’s troops will welcome Truman State (Oct. 27) and William Jewell (Oct. 29) to JQH Arena before a trip to Joplin to take on Missouri Southern for a Nov. 5 benefit game. All proceeds from the game at MSSU will go directly to the Missouri Southern Foundation’s Tornado Emergency Relief Fund to help aid the relief effort for the May 22 natural disaster that destroyed much of the Joplin community.

Complete television information, including nine games produced by KY3, Inc. for the Missouri State Television Network, will be finalized by November 1.

Missouri State, which finished with an RPI of 39 and played in the NIT last season, is coming off a 26-9 campaign in which the Bears claimed the MVC regular-season title for the first time. Lusk came onto the scene April 1 to inherit a program that returns six lettermen, including 2011 MVC Player of the Year Kyle Weems (16.0 ppg), and seven newcomers.

— MSU Sports Information —

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