LAKELAND, Fla. (December 9, 2020) - The last time the St. Thomas University (STU) Bobcats Basketball team faced off against the Southeastern University Fire; the Sun Conference Tournament Championship and a bid to the NAIA National Tournament was on the line. Tonight, in the Sun Conference Game of the Week, the rivals face off once again.

Southeastern earned the Sun Conference Tournament Championship win, preventing the Bobcats from winning the program's first Sun Conference Tournament title since 2008 by defeating STU 78-73 in February 2020.

St. Thomas University Head Coach, D.P. Harris, in his second season at STU, guided the Bobcats on an impressive turnaround in year one of his tenure, as STU doubled its win total. "We have looked ahead to this match-up against Southeastern, and we're thrilled that tonight has been picked as the Game of the Week," said Harris. "Both of our programs have the same goal, which is competing for the Sun Conference Tournament Championship. Last season, we split the regular-season series, and we know that tonight will tough task."

STU was picked to finish second in the preseason Sun Conference Coaches' Poll, trailing only the outright 2019-20 Sun Conference Champions, Southeastern. The Bobcats earned three first-place votes, to the Fire's five. Currently, Southeastern (5-1, 2-1 TSC) is in second place in the Sun Conference, while St. Thomas (3-3, 2-2 TSC) and tied for third. 

STU has yet to find consistency through six games, sitting at 3-3 and only winning back-to-back games once after beating both Warner (62-53) and Florida National (95-86), and are without a road win so far this season. Southeastern fell for the first time in the 20-21 season, dropping a Sun Conference game against Keiser (72-70). 

Quinterious Jones and Dwayne Russell, a pair of forwards for the Bobcats, have led the way in the early part of the season. Jones, averaging 15.3 points-per-game and five rebounds-per-game, enters the Sun Conference Game of the Week averaging 22-points in his past two games. Jones scored a career-high (29) on 93% shooting in the 95-86 win over FNU. 

"I'm proud of the sacrifice, commitment, and consistency our players have shown through the first semester. It's a difficult time for us all, but our players remain focused on staying safe and healthy," added Harris. "Jones and Russell have been incredibly effective for us; we're still trying to find a groove and hit our stride, but we have a special team. Hopefully, tonight can put an exclamation point on our first semester and head into the break with a win."

The trio of Jones, Russell, and Jahsim Floyd will have to contend with reigning Freshman of the Year, Riley Minix. Minix currently leads the Sun Conference in points-per-game (22.3), and rebounds-per-game (12.1) is the leader for the Fire. 

The Bobcats take on the Fire in the Sun Conference Game of the Week from "The Furnace," on the campus of Southeastern University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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