0 SAINTS BASKETBALL 1 SAINTS BASKETBALL CONTENTS LIMESTONE COLLEGE Quick Facts……………………………………….2 Season Outlook Season Outlook…………………………………3-5 2004 Roster……………………………………….6 2004 Schedule…………………………………….7 Coach and Player Personnel Head Coach Larry Epperly..……………………...8 Assistant Coaches…………....…..……………….9 Seniors……………………………………….10-12 Juniors…………………………………………...13 Sophomores………………………………….14-16 Freshmen……………………………………..16-17 Opponents 2004 Opponents……………………………...18-19 2003 Results……………………………………..19 Stats 2003 Stats………………………………………..20 Career Records……………………………….21-22 Single Season Records……………………….23-24 Athletic Department Athletic Directory……………………………….25 Athletic Training………………………………..26 2004 Quick Facts Athletic Support College Information Saints Club………………………………………27 Location……………………………………….Gaffney, SC Facilities Enrollment……………………………………………....619 Limestone Athletic Facilities………………...28-29 Founded………………………………………………..1845 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference President…………………………………...Dr. Walt Griffin CVAC Information……………………………...29 Athletic Information Limestone College Athletic Director……………………………..Larry Epperly Limestone College Information……….Back Cover Asst. AD for Compliance..………………...Dennis Bloomer Senior Women’s Administrator ………….Cyndi McMahan Nickname…………………………………………….Saints Colors………………………………………..Blue and Gold Affiliation……………………………….NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Information Conference……….Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Head Coach…………………………Larry Epperly (8th Yr.) Overall Record………………………....202-266 (17 Years) Record at Limestone…………...…...…….72-116 (7 Years) Assistant Coach…........................................Dennis Bloomer Assistant Coach…………………………….Mackie Walker Facility………………………………...Timken Gymnasium 2004-2005 Media Guide Credits 2003 Record……………………………………………9-20 Letter Winners Returning/Lost..…………………………8/1 The 2004-2005 Limestone Men’s Basketball Media Newcomers………………………………………………...4 Guide was written, designed, and edited by Sports Media Information Information Director Josh Lacy with editorial SID……………………………………………….Josh Lacy assistance from Dr. Walt Griffin, Adrienne SID Phone……………………………………864-488-8219 Behling, and Josh Crotzer. SID Fax………………………………………864-902-0714 SID Email……………………………[email protected] Website Address……………………….www.limestone.edu 2 SAINTS BASKETBALL 2004-2005 OUTLOOK LIMESTONE COLLEGE The Limestone College men’s basketball team returns to the floor this fall looking for a big improvement from last year. 0 High expectations are justified considering the return of four starters and the return of Darrell Tate to Limestone. Also, the addition of assistant coach Dennis Bloomer gives the Saints even more 4 experience on the bench. With most of the team intact and another year of experience under their belt, this year’s squad will look to cause trouble in the very competitive Carolinas-Virginia - Athletic Conference. Last year’s growing pains – the team featured seven freshmen and no seniors – are gone as roster now features three seniors, two juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen. Head Coach Larry Epperly is in his eighth season as head coach at Limestone. The Saints have put together a very talented group of players for the upcoming season. “We have the people and experience in place,” said 0 Coach Epperly. “Now we just have to get every one on the same page and working together toward a CVAC Championship.” Limestone’s career leader in points, Brandon Shipman, is back after a stellar junior campaign in which 5 he averaged 17.9 points per game and garnered 2nd team all-conference honors. He shot 48.5 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from 3-point range. He also shot an outstanding 85.3 percent from the foul line. This season Brandon will extend his school record for NCAA Division II points which stands at 1,111 after three seasons. Shipman brings a deadly element to the Saints game with a shooting prowess second to none in the CVAC. He forces an opponent’s defense to have to extend out, which opens up the lane for post play. O Brandon’s fellow backcourt mate, Marquintus Jones, is back for his junior season. Jones, a 6’3 sophomore from Denmark, Tennessee, will bring athleticism and defense for the Saints. Jones had a major scare during Christmas break last season when his car collided with a truck on his way home for the break. He was hospitalized for several days with neck and back injuries. The Saints thought they had lost Jones for the season. However, “Q” showed a toughness that few players possess and returned U to the Limestone lineup in a game at Pfeiffer University on January 17, barely a month after his accident. Jones scored 9 points that night in a loss to the NCAA tournament bound Falcons, but he had earned a new respect from his teammates and coaches. His leadership and intensity alone will make the Saints a better team. Jones averaged 12.2 points per game and is also the team’s leading returning rebounder with 4.8 per game. T At the point guard position, the reliable Shawn Poppie returns for his sophomore season. Poppie led the team in assists, steals, and minutes played last season as a freshman. His steadiness at the point guard L position earned him the reins of the team early last year and he looks to continue to improve with three years of eligibility remaining. One of the highlights of Poppie’s freshman season was on the road against Mars Hill December 13, when he nailed the game-winning three pointer as time expired, to give Limestone its first win of the season. Poppie had a great O spring by working out in the weight room and in individual workouts. The coaching staff looks for Poppie to have another great year. The frontcourt positions will be filled by senior forward Ben Touchberry O and returning forward/center Darrell Tate. Touchberry had a solid first season as a Saint after red-shirting the 2002-2003 season. He averaged 9.3 points per game and shot 41 percent from behind the arc. Touchberry is a tough match-up because of his combination of size and shooting ability. Ben will also see some time in the Saints lineup at the “3” position when K the team decides to go with a bigger lineup. Tate, a junior from Gaffney High School, returns to the team after a two-year absence. Tate’s return is a major boost to Limestone’s roster. He brings size, experience, 3 SAINTS BASKETBALL 2004-2005 OUTLOOK LIMESTONE COLLEGE and skill into the post position. As a sophomore, Tate averaged 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was named All-CVAC honorable mention. A tough inside/outside game makes Darrell a very difficult 0 player to defend. The Saints will enjoy his return with his aggressive style of play, rebounding prowess, and toughness. With a strong returning core and several key newcomers the Saints have high hopes this season, with a CVAC championship within their reach. 4 GUARD: - The 2004-2005 team will be as talented as ever in the backcourt. Shawn Poppie will lead the offense. Shawn’s consistency is what the team has been looking for at the point guard position. Poppie averaged 5.2 assists per game last season and remarkably led the team in 0 defensive rebounds. Poppie’s only career non-starting game was the first game of the season against USC-Spartanburg. Following that game he started 28 consecutive contests. Poppie’s best scoring night came in a matchup against the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year from Queens, Spencer Ross. That night Poppie scored 5 20 points, and had 8 rebounds and played 40 minutes. Poppie finished the season averaging 9.5 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind the line. Poppie will be joined in the backcourt by an experienced group of players. Sophomore Marquintus Jones is Limestone’s “Mr. Versatility.” He can handle the ball, guard taller players, and rebound the basketball. Jones scored over 20 points in 5 games last year, despite sitting out 6 games after a car O accident over the holidays left him hospitalized. Jones became an inspiration to the team and upon his return to the lineup, the Saints reeled off 5 consecutive CVAC victories. Jones flirted with a triple double November 22 against North Greenville, compiling 17 points, 12 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists. Jones will continue to use athleticism to get by defenders on the drive and create open shots for teammates as well as knock down the open 3. U Senior and leading scorer Brandon Shipman will be another huge key to the Saints success this season. Brandon previously was known as a pure outside shooter, but he has expanded his game and last season connected on 115 of 213 shots that were inside the three-point arc. But true to his nature, Shipman shot 42 percent from behind the arc as well, on his way to averaging 17.9 T points per game. Against Lees-McRae, Brandon scored a career high 31 points, making 10 of 14 shots from the field and draining 7 of 9 from 3-point land. Shipman scored in double figures in all but four games last season, and he scored over 20 points on 12 occasions L while shooting a team high 85 percent from the foul line. The Saints look for more of the same from Brandon as he will finish his career as Limestone’s all time leader in points, steals and games played. Alex Bailey will be asked to take on a much bigger role for O Limestone this season. Bailey, the all-time leader in made three- pointers in South Carolina prep history and former South Carolina Player of the Year for 1A, averaged 19 minutes per game last year. This season, he looks to receive more playing time after a very O successful freshman campaign in which he averaged 6.4 points per game and shot 36 percent from the three point line. Bailey is a deep scoring threat who will force defenders out. In a game against Pfeiffer last season, Bailey dropped 18 points on the Falcons, ranked 2nd in the nation, connecting on 4 three pointers.