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Men's Basketball

 SIUE Men's Basketball
SIUE Athletics
Cougar Ruler

T.J. Gray
T.J. Gray

 November 26, 2007

SIUE Men's Basketball Expects More of the Same
         Now that the Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball season is upon us, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball coach Lennox Forrester expects more of the same.
         "A lot of our guys know the teams in the GLVC. I expect them to help our guys get locked in mentally and physically," said Forrester.
         SIUE must mentally and physically face up to the challenge of Bellarmine and Northern Kentucky invading the Vadalabene Center.
         The 2-1 Cougars meet Bellarmine, 4-1, in a 7:30 p.m. game Thursday. SIUE Athletics will feature the awarding of varsity jackets during halftime. Northern Kentucky faces SIUE at 3 p.m. Saturday.
         SIUE's high-powered offense has scored an average of 90.3 points per game over their first three contests. That's second best in the league.
         SIUE has been led by the scoring of senior transfer T.J. Gray (Champaign). Gray is fifth in scoring at 19.7 points per game and leads the GLVC in three-pointers with 17.
         "Given his past, he's very capable. We expect him to get us off to a good start offensively and defensively," said Forrester.
         Leonard Parker (Leavenworth, Kan.) also is the clear leader in the GLVC in assists, averaging 10 per game. Parker tied the Vadalabene Center record for assists with 14 against Robert Morris.
         "What Leonard is doing is playing to his strength. He is looking to score, but he's also looking to get his teammates involved," said Forrester.
         SIUE also has benefited from the play of junior John Edmison (Springfield). Edmison is averaging 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Forrester said Doug Taylor (McClure) has been a big plus at center. Taylor is second in the GLVC with eight blocks and is tied for the team lead in rebounds at 6.3 per game.
         "Our bench is coming into the game and giving us some quality minutes too," said Forrester. SIUE's bench has outscored its opponents 130-63 in the first three games.
                  -siue cougars-