Aggies cruise past Tigers in finale
LAWTON, Oklahoma (February 28) – It was the perfect send-off for six seniors as the Cameron Aggie men’s basketball team (14-13, 7-5 LSC North) routed the East Central Tigers (6-22, 1-11 LSC North) today in the Aggie Gym. CU defeated ECU in decisive fashion by the score 93-65, for their school-record seventh Lone Star Conference North Division win. Today was the 2008-2009 regular season finale; CU is headed to the postseason.
“We are playing our best basketball right now, and since our game against Southwestern we have started to peak,” Head Coach Wade Alexander said. “That’s what you want to be doing at this point in the season. We had the opportunity tonight to sub more guys in and rest a little more, and that really helped us out.”
Cameron took the lead very soon after the opening tip off and went on a 30-7 run to essentially secure the victory. CU nearly doubled ECU’s score by halftime and went into the locker room up 52-28 at the break. The Aggies led by almost 30 points for much of the win, which secures CU’s first winning season since 2004-2005.
“We didn’t have a lot to play for other than sending our seniors out the right way,” Coach Alexander said. “The seniors really bought into what the coaches wanted them to do, and that was the key. I truly believe that’s why we have had a little taste of success, because they are doing what we asked. The seniors are being the leaders.”
The Aggies saw a few school records fall in today’s regular-season finale, many that deal with long-range shooting. As a team, Cameron recorded 19 three-point field goals today which are 2 more than the previous record of 17 three-point field goals set in 1995 against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.
Cameron was led offensively tonight by senior guard Dave Smith who finished with a game-high 34 points on 11-21 shooting, including 10-18 from long-range. With 10 three’s, Smith breaks the previous CU record of 9 three-pointers in a game, set by Jeremy Amos against Central Oklahoma in 2004.
Smith also broke the three-pointer attempts record of 16, set by Brandon Kephart against Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2000. Smith’s 10 three pointers also gives him 93 for the season, further breaking the CU school record of 80, also held by Kephart (1999-2000).
For the first time in 11 seasons, today’s regular-finale does not end the season for the Aggie men’s basketball team. Cameron matches up against the LSC South Division’s top seed, the rival Mustangs of Midwestern State University, next Thursday (March 5) at 8:30pm in the first round of the LSC Championship tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. If CU wins they play Saturday afternoon where a win would put the Aggies in Sunday’s championship.
“It’s that time of year when our guys are the most focused,” Coach Alexander said. “If I needed to say something to get them motivated for playoffs, I’d be concerned. They are already ready and know what they have to do. Now, every game is their last game, so hopefully we’ll play like it.”
Cameron University is hosting a free caravan to Bartlesville for all interested fans. The buses will depart from the CU Tennis Center at 3:00pm on Thursday, and return approximately four hours after the conclusion of the CU-MSU game. Those interested in riding on the free bus can email Athletic Director Jim Jackson (jjackson@cameron.edu) or Sports Information Director Craig Martin (cmartin@cameron.edu) to reserve a spot.
