LAST TIME OUT

Shamar Wright triggered a second-half surge to guide SIUE past Eastern Kentucky 83-75 on Saturday at First Community Arena at the Vadalbene Center.Wright scored a season-best 20 points to help the Cougars snap a four-game skid Wright's season-best 20 points ignited the Cougars and teammate Anselm Uzuegbunem registered the first double-double of his SIUE career with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Jackson pitched in 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. SIUE shot 47 percent (26-55) for the game and 57 percent (16-28) in the second half. The Cougars outrebounded EKU 49-34.

 

BARONE DEBUTS

Head Coach Brian Barone takes over at the top after two seasons as the Cougars' top assistant. He has previous Division I stops at Green Bay, Indiana, Marquette and Illinois State. He also brings junior college experience as a head coach and assistant. 

 

BARONE'S PEDIGREE

Brian's father is the late Tony Barone, Sr., who played at Duke before beginning his coaching career. After stops at Duke and Bradley as an assistant, Tony was the head coach at Creighton (1985-91) and Texas A&M (1991-1998). He also coached the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies during the 2006-07 season.

 

BARONE SIGNED THROUGH 2024

On November 13, SIUE Director of Athletics Tim Hall announced an extension of Head Coach Brian Barone's contract through the 2023-2024 season. 

 

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Unofficially, Barone is one of nine current Division I head coaches whose father also was a Division I head coach. The List:

Tony Bennett, Virginia (Dick Bennett)

Jeff Capel III, Pittsburgh (Jeff Capel II)

Kermit Davis, Jr., Mississippi (Kermit Davis, Sr.)

Scott Drew, Baylor (Homer Drew)

Mark Prosser, Western Carolina (Skip Prosser)

Richard Pitino, Minnesota (Rick Pitino)

Jay Spoonhour, Eastern Illinois (Charlie Spoonhour)

Kevin Willard, Seton Hall (Ralph Willard)

 

FAMILY MATTERS

SIUE freshmen Lamar and Shamar Wright are the sons of former NBA player, the late Lorenzen Wright. Their older brother, Lorenzen, Jr. played at UT Martin during the 2017-18 season. 

 

OH BROTHER

Lamar and Shamar are one of 16 sets of brothers nationally who are playing on the same Division I team this season. The twins join brothers playing at Boston College, The Citadel, Coppin State, Eastern Washington, Iowa, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's, Navy, Northwestern State, Oklahoma State, Ohio, Ohio State, Pepperdine, Robert Morris and Vermont.

 

CONFERENCE CALL

SIUE is playing its ninth Ohio Valley Conference season. The Cougars are 44-102 all-time in the OVC.