Bisons finish tough season; optimistic about next year Searching for new team leadership and preparing for a new conference were the major challenges facing the Bisons this season. Despite the obstacles, they were able to compile a 17-11 record for the season. Last year, the Bisons had six starting seniors. This year, there was only one and he was injured early in the season and out for the rest of the year. Coach Jeff Morgan said that this was a definite factor in the way the Bi sons performed this year. "Anytime you have a leadership void that great, there is an urgent need to fill it. The players came into the season looking to see who would step up and take the position." Junior post Brent Adams agreed. "This year has been a little difficult, but we are a young team and, by next year, we will have ourselves together and ready for the Lone Star Conference." Next year, the Bisons will hold full membership in the Lone Star Conference, which Morgan says is the third toughest division. The Bisons will play at a much higher level of competition. The Lone Star Conference, south division, includes schools from Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. "The Lone Star Conference will be tough on us because we will have to travel so much," Morgan said. Junior forward J.R. Duke is looking forward to the challenge. "I am nervous. The schools that we'll be playing are tough, but I know that we are capable ofplaying at their level," he said. Morgan has coached the men's basketball team for four years. His goals for this season were to raise the standard of play and to maintain a successful attitude. "I wanted this team to know that we are capable of playing at a highly competitive level and to raise their work ethic for the game,"Morgan said. Adams said that his personal goal was to contribute more to the team. "I think one of my main goals was to give all I had to this team and to have a definite role in the game," he said. Junior guard Cliff Miller said that he had three personal goals for this year. "I wanted to establish myself as a leader for the team, I wanted to be a better defender, and I wanted to complete 75 percent of my free throws." Morgan and the team are not intimidated by the challenge of playing in a more competitive conference. In fact, they are determined to be successful. "We plan to make our mark next year. This team has played together for a year and the entire team is returning," Morgan said. "They know what to expect from each other. They know what the coaching staff expects from them, and my goal is for us to be in the top four of our division." - Rebecca West Scoreboard NE Okla. 70-79 ATU Lindenwood 84-74 JBU Evangel 82-77 HSU ATU 61-63 Lyon Hillsdale 105-44 NE Okla. UAM 86-70 Drury UCA 76-79 Ark. Bapt. SAU 66-73 SAU CBU 78-79 OBU 274 Men's Basketball 77-57 UAM 87-74 Ark. Bapt. 68-84 HSU 73-72 UCA 82-57 ATU 90-76 OBU 96-64 Drury 59-70 CBU 71-81 Lyon 76-71 82-57 102-72 84-77 97-57 77-73 73-78 94-89 84-69 Forward Brent Adams shoots from the outside in a tough game again: Southern Arkansas. Adams came back in full swing this season aftL being redshirted last year. Photo by Aaron Gillihan.
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