BILLY TUBBS TO ENTER OKLAHOMA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Lamar University athletic director and former basketball coach Billy Tubbs will be one of the 2006 class of inductees into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Tubbs, who was head basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma for 14 years, will join OU football great Keith Jackson, golfer Bob Dickson and auto racing pioneer Jack Zink for induction ceremonies August 21, in Oklahoma City.
"Tubbs' up tempo `Billy Ball' style of play is credited for pulling OU basketball out of obscurity and changing the face of Big Eight basketball," said Lynne Draper, president of the Jim Thorpe Association, which manages the Hall of Fame. The new inductees will bring the membership in the Hall of Fame to a total of 107 of Oklahoma's greatest sports personalities. "Oklahoma's sports heritage is second to none," Draper said. "Over half of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame members are also members of national halls of fame."
Tubbs was born March 5, 1935, in St Louis, MO., and grew up in Tulsa. He lettered three years in basketball at Tulsa Central High School and then led Lon Morris College, Jacksonville, TX., to the National Junior College semifinals before finishing his college career at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. He became a head coach in 1971 at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX., and in 1976, returned to Lamar. In four seasons (1976-79) the Cardinals were 75-46, winning three conference championships and the school's first two NCAA Tournament appearances. Tubbs garnered the Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1978 and 1980.
His next stop was the University of Oklahoma, posting a 333-132 record in 14 years and leading the Sooners to the national championship game in 1988. He took OU to nine NCAA and four NIT tournaments, including a streak of six straight "Sweet 16" appearances from 1985-90. His OU teams had 13 winning seasons and won five conference championships. Tubbs was the Big Eight Coach of the year in 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989, and was named Basketball Weekly National Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1985.
Texas Christian University was Tubbs' home for the eight years from 1994-2002, compiling a record of 156-95 and taking the school to its first NCAA appearance in eleven years and two NIT tournaments. He was Coach of the Year in the Southwest Conference in 1995 and in the Western Athletic Conference in 1998. In 2002, he again returned to Lamar, this time as athletic director. He began double duty as athletic director and basketball coach in March, 2003 and again turned a losing program around with winning seasons in 2005 and 2006. In March, at the age of 71, Tubbs resigned as basketball coach to concentrate on his job as athletic director.
In 31 years as a head coach, Billy Tubbs compiled a 641-340 (.653) career record with his wins ranking him 34th all-time in NCAA history. He guided 12 teams to NCAA Tournaments, six NIT appearances, eight conference championships, three conference tournament championships and 18 seasons with 20 or more wins.
He is an avid jogger and supports many charitable causes. He and his wife, Pat, have two children: Tommy, who played point guard for his dad at OU, and Taylor, a former cheerleader at OU.

Alan Daniels Enjoys Record-Setting Season; Lamar Posts 17-14 Record

Senior Alan Daniels turned in the finest single-season offensive performance in school history, leading Lamar University men's basketball to a 17-14 overall record, 9-7 in conference play, and to the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.
Daniels led the team and the SLC in scoring for the second straight year, averaging 23.5 points per game, which ranks as the best single-season scoring average in school history. It is also the highest scoring average since Eric Kubel led the SLC in scoring at 24.3 ppg in 1993-94.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Daniels was named first team All-SLC for the second straight year and was named United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District VII. He also earned SLC All-Tournament honors after averaging 30.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg and helping Lamar reach the semifinals of the SLC Tournament before losing to top-seed and tournament champion Northwestern State.
Daniels scored in double-figures in 27 of 31 games this season, including scoring 20 or more points 24 times and 30 or more eight times. He scored a career-high 41 points at then No. 9-ranked Memphis (11/28/05) and 40 points at Louisiana-Monroe (2/25/06).
A two-year letterwinner, Daniels became the 18th player in school history to score 1,000 career points with a 27-point game in Lamar's 79-53 win over UL-Monroe (1/19/06), which was his 47th game at Lamar. He became the fastest player to score 1,000 points in school history and the first two-year transfer player to score 1,000 points.
Daniels finished his career with 1,306 career points, which ranks 11th all-time in school history. His 21.8 ppg scoring average is the best in school history. He scored in double-figures in 52 of 60 career games and scored 20 or more points 42 times and 30 or more points 13 times, which tied Mike Olliver for the school record.

Lamar's season got off to a shaky 1-4 start, losing two of three games at the season-opening Top of the World Classic hosted by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The Cardinals wagering lost to Southern Miss (76-79) and Kennesaw State (60-79) before bouncing back to beat Montana State (92-82). That was the school's 800th career since becoming a four-year institution for the 1951-52 season.
After loses at then No. 9-ranked Memphis (83-108)) and at Brigham Young (74-97), Lamar reeled off five straight wins starting with an 89-71 win over Oklahoma City. The Cardinals also posted wins over Louisiana College (97-68), Prairie View A&M (99-58), at Arkansas State (91-81) and Tulsa (86-78).
Lamar college basketball team lost at Air Force (50-73) two days before Christmas, and returned to the Montagne Center to close out its non-conference schedule with a 112-60 win over St. Gregory's and a 73-82 loss to Delta State.
After opening SLC play with a 78-83 home loss to McNeese State, the Cardinals went on their second five-game winning streak of the season with wins at Texas State (83-58), at Stephen F. Austin (70-65), vs. Texas Arlington (93-89), vs. UL-Monroe (79-53) and at Nicholls State (89-81).
Lamar split its next four games, losing at home to Stephen F. Austin (54-72) and at McNeese State (72-76) and posting wins over Texas State (83-71) and at Texas-San Antonio (77-70). The Cardinals dropped three straight starting with Sam Houston State (82-85), at Texas-Arlington (73-75) and at Northwestern State (67-80).
The Cardinals regrouped with wins at UL-Monroe (89-83) and vs. Nicholls State (103-87) before closing out the regular season with a 79-89 loss to Southeastern Louisiana.
Lamar finished the regular season tied for fourth place in the SLC standings at 9-7 with Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State, but was the No. 6-seed in the SLC Tournament after the tie was broken. The Cardinals upset No. 3-seed SLU, 68-65, in the first round of the SLC Tournament before losing, 66-80, at top-seeded Northwestern State in the semifinals. It marked the second straight year that Lamar's season ended in the semifinals of the SLC Tournament at Northwestern State.
In addition to scoring 23.5 ppg, Daniels was second on the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg. He led the team with 72 steals and was third in assists with 92. He shot 43.6 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from three-point range and 66.5 percent from the free throw line.
Sophomore Matthew Barrow was second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and was second on the team with 99 assists. He missed the final five games of the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury at Northwestern State (2/2306). He shot 41.8 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from 3-point range and a team-leading 83.3 odds percent from the free throw line. He was named honorable mention All-SLC.
Senior Thomas Fairley averaged 11.1 ppg and a team-leading 7.9 rpg, which ranked third in the SLC, to earn third team All-SLC honors. He shot 51.4 percent from the field and 63.2 percent from the free throw line. He led the SLC with 70 blocked shots, which ranked as the third best single-season total in school history. His 105 career blocked shots ranks fourth all-time in school history.
Lamar led the SLC and ranked among the NCAA leaders in scoring at 80.2 ppg. The Cardinals shot 45.4 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range and 64.8 percent from the free throw line. Lamar's 2,487 points scored this season ranks as the fourth highest total in school history. The Cardinals 214 three-pointers made ranks third all-time and their 630 three-point attempts ranks fourth all-time.

Steve Roccaforte Elevated to Men's Basketball Coach

Steve Roccaforte, who has served the last three seasons on Billy Tubbs' coaching staff and was the program's recruiting coordinator, has been elevated to head basketball coach at Lamar University, Tubbs announced in a Tuesday press conference.
Having built a reputation nationally as one of the best recruiters in the country and a fine on-the-court coach, Roccaforte returned to his alma mater in June 2003. He prepped at Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson High School and served as a student assistant three years while earning a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree in 1989.
"Steve knows the tradition and has a genuine passion for Lamar basketball because he grew up with it," Tubbs said in introducing Roccaforte. "I believe he has a great future and will continue to take Lamar basketball to our expectation level of where the program should be on a yearly basis."
Roccaforte, who becomes Lamar's ninth head coach since becoming a four-year institution in 1951, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the job. He was listed as one of the top four assistant coaches ready to take over their own program according to Dan Wetzel of CBS Sportsline.com and was voted the seventh best assistant coach in the country by Basketball Times for the 2002-03 season. As reported by recruiting analyst Dave Telep, Roccaforte is one of the 25 hardest working coaches in the nation as well as one of the top 15 recruiters in the country.
"This is an unbelievable day for me and I would like to thank Dr. Simmons, Coach Tubbs and Mr. Zeek for their role in giving me this opportunity," Roccaforte said. "This is the job I've always coveted. I went to every Lamar game I could growing up. I'm just really excited and look forward to continuing the proud tradition of Lamar basketball."
During his career, Roccaforte recruited such players as Dajuan Wagner (Cleveland Cavaliers), Qyntel Woods (Portland Trailblazers), Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns) and Kendrick Perkins (Boston Celtics).

In three years at Memphis, Roccaforte helped the Tigers advance to the NIT final four in 2001, won the NIT championship in 2002 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 for the first time in seven years. Prior to his time at Memphis, Roccaforte spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the Wyoming staff (1998-2000). The Cowboys were 37-22 during his tenure which included a trip to the NIT.
Before heading to Wyoming, Roccaforte worked at Tulane where he coordinated the Green Wave's recruiting activities. During his four years at Tulane, the Wave posted three consecutive 20-win seasons (1994-98). The Green Wave advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 1995, the NIT Final Four in 1996 and a second NIT appearance in 1997.
Prior to coaching stints at Tulane and Wyoming, Roccaforte was an assistant coach at Centenary College for five seasons (1989-94).
Centenary won its first TAAC regular-season championship during his tenure.
Roccaforte, 40 (born May 21, 1965), and his wife Tina have a daughter, Victoria Elise, 9, and a son, Lucien Anthony, 6.

Lamar Opens Southland Tournament Tuesday at Southeastern Louisiana

Led by All-Southland Conference selections Alan Daniels and Thomas Fairley, sportsbooks No. 6-seed Lamar University opens the 2006 O'Reilly Auto Parts SLC Tournament Tuesday with a 7 p.m. game at No. 3-seed Southeastern Louisiana at the University Center.
The rest of the first round matchups are No. 8-Texas-San Antonio at No. 1-Northwestern State, No. 7-Texas-Arlington at No. 2-Sam Houston State and No. 5-McNeese State at No. 4-Stephen F. Austin.
Lamar finished the regular season with a 16-13 overall record and a 9-7 mark in SLC play. The Cardinals finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State, but the Lumberjacks claimed the No. 4-seed by virtue of its 3-1 record against the Cardinals and Cowboys. McNeese grabbed the No. 5-seed by sweeping the season series with Lamar.
The Cardinals are coming off an 89-79 home loss to SLU this past Friday, which snapped Lamar's two-game winning streak. The Cardinals have lost four of their last six games. This is Lamar's second straight trip to the SLC Tournament, posting a 91-83 win at Texas-San Antonio in the first round last season before losing 90-75 at top-seeded Northwestern State.
SLU is 16-11 overall and 10-6 in SLC play. The Lions have won six straight and eight of their last nine games since started league play with a 2-5 mark. SLU is the defending tournament champion having defeated Northwestern State 49-42 in the SLC Tournament championship game last season and making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

This will be the 29th meeting between Lamar and SLU with the Cardinals holding a 16-12 all-time series advantage. Lamar is 10-5 in games played in Beaumont, 4-5 in Hammond and 1-1 on a neutral court. SLU won the only meeting between the two schools, 89-79, last Friday. The Lions have won eight of the last 10 in the series, including six straight. This will be the first meeting postseason meeting between Lamar and SLU.
Daniels, who was named first team all-SLC for the second straight year, leads the SLC in scoring for the second straight year at 23.1 points per game, which is the league's highest scoring average since Eric Kubel averaged 24.3 ppg in 1993-94. He is second on the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg, leads the team in steals with 69 (28th in NCAA) and is third with 89 assists.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Daniels has scored in double-figures in 25 of 29 games this season. He has scored 20 or more points in a game 22 times and 30 or more points seven times. He is the first Lamar player to earn first team all-SLC honors in consecutive seasons since Tom Sewell (1983 and 1984).
Fairley, who earned third team all-SLC honors, averaged 11.5 ppg and leads the team with 8.1 rpg, which ranks second in the SLC. He leads the SLC with 65 blocked shots, which ranks 28th in the NCAA. An honorable mention all-SLC selection last season, Fairley is shooting 51.6 odds percent from the field (9th in SLC).
Sophomore Matthew Barrow, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Feb. 23 at Northwestern State, was named honorable mention all-SLC. He averaged 12.3 ppg and 3.81 apg (6th in SLC).
Lamar leads the SLC and ranks 13th in the NCAA in scoring at 81.1 ppg. The Cardinals are shooting 45.8 percent from the field (4th in SLC), 34.3 percent from three-point range (8th in SLC) and 64.5 percent from the free throw line (10th in SLC).
Ricky Woods, who was named first team all-SLC and SLC player of the year, leads SLU in scoring at 17.9 ppg (3rd in SLC) and in rebounding at 11.0 rpg (1st in SLC). He is shooting 48.7 percent from the field, and leads the team in blocked shots (46) and steals (57). Quennell Green is the only other Lion averaging double-figures at 12.4 ppg. Terry Bryant leads the team with 98 assists (4th in SLC).
SLU is averaging 68.5 ppg (9th in SLC) and is shooting 44.2 percent from the field (7th in SLC), 37.1 percent from 3-point range (3rd in SLC) and 65.4 percent from the free throw line (9th in SLC).
Joining Daniels and Woods (SLU) on the all-SLC first team was Clifton Lee of Northwestern State, Chris Jordan of Sam Houston State and J.T. Williams of McNeese State. The second team consisted of Andre Owens of Texas-San Antonio, Steven Thomas and Jarrett Howell of Texas-Arlington, Marcus Clark of Stephen F. Austin and Tyronn Mitchell (NWLA).
Joining Fairley on the all-SLC third team was Stefan Blaszczynski of Nicholls State, Jejuan Plair (SHSU), Jermaine Wallace (NWLA) and Dwight Boatner (McN). Plair was also named SLC newcomer of the year, Josh Alexander (SFA) was named freshman of the year and Mike McConathy (NWLA) earned coach of the year honors.

Lamar Posts 89-83 win at UL-Monroe

Senior Alan Daniels scored a game-high 40 points to lead Lamar University to an 89-83 win at Louisiana-Monroe Saturday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Southland Conference men's basketball action.
Lamar, who snapped a three-game losing streak, improved to 15-12 overall and 8-6 in SLC play. The Cardinals return home to close out the regular season with a 7 p.m. game against Nicholls State on Wednesday. UL-Monroe dropped to 10-17 overall and 6-9 in SLC play. The Indians lost four the fourth time in five games.
Lamar put the game away with a late run in the first half. Trialing 10-16, the Cardinals closed the first half on a 24-8 run to take a 40-28 spread lead into the locker room at halftime.
UL-Monroe closed to within three, 61-58, but the Cardinals again had the answer. Lamar's final 13 points came at the free throw line, where they finished the game shooting 76 percent (19 of 25).
Daniels came within a point of matching his career-high. He had a break away layup that would have counted at the final buzzer, but it caromed off the front iron. He was 11 of 23 from the field, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, and 11 of 13 at the free throw line.
Blake Whittle added 16 points and Brandon Chappell chipped in 13. Thomas Fairley recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Lamar shot 48.3 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from 3-point range on 14 of 24 aim.
James Perkins came off the bench to lead ULM with 20 points. Lance Brasher added 18 and Gary Robinson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

ULM shot 40.8 odd percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 59.1 percent from the free throw line.

Lamar Drops Hard-Fought Game at Texas-Arlington, 75-73

Alan Daniels led for Lamar University players in double-figures with 22 points, but Northwestern State.
UTA improved to 12-13 overall and 5-7 in SLC play. The Mavericks snapped a six-game losing streak to the Cardinals.
Trailing 71-68, Daniels nailed a three-pointer deep in the left corner that tied the game for the third time in the second half with 2:23 left in the game. After a missed jumper by Steven Thomas, Thomas Fairley hit a layup that put Lamar up two, 73-71, at 1:21.
Larry Posey sank a pair of free throws with 40 seconds remaining that tied the game at 73-73. After a turnover by Daniels, Howell made two free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining to give the Mavs a 75-73 lead.
Matthew Barrow drove the lane for the ncaa Cardinals, but was called for an offensive foul with 0.6 left. Nashid Beard intercepted a pass and got off a desperation three-pointer from just beyond mid-court that caromed off the back iron.
Daniels was 8 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, in scoring 22 points. He added four rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and three steals. It was the 19th time in 25 games he has scored 20 or more points.
Barrow added 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting with three assists and two steals. Fairley chipped in 11 points with a team-high eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Blake Whittle scored 10 points.

Lamar, who shot 53.6 percent from the field in the first half in taking a 44-39 halftime lead, finished the game at 49 percent, 38.1 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 odd percent from the free throw line.
Thomas led UTA with 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field. Howell and Rodrick Epps each had 13 points, and Brady Dawkins chipped in 11. Posey finished the game with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.
UTA shot 41.4 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from 3-point range and 73.9 percent from the free throw line, including going 12 of 14 in the second stanza. The Mavs outrebounded Lamar 41 to 25, including grabbing 20 off the offensive glass.

Lamar Holds Off Late Texas-San Antonio Rally for 77-70 Win

Senior Thomas Fairley recorded his sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 28 points and 14 rebounds as Lamar University held off a late Texas-San Antonio rally for a 77-70 win Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference men's basketball action at the Convocation Center.
Lamar improved to 14-9 overall and 7-3 in SLC play. The Cardinals have won two straight games and seven of their last nine. Lamar moved into a tie for second place in the SLC standings with Sam Houston State, who will visit the Montagne Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game.
After taking a 46-28 lead into the locker room at halftime, Lamar college basketball team outscored the Roadrunners 8-2 to open the second stanza and extend its lead to a game-high 24 points, 54-30.
UTSA responded with a 16-0 run to climb its way back in the game. Andre Owens started the run with a pair of layups and Abe Donlon added a pair of baskets. Kurt Attaway's conventional three point play pulled the Roadrunners two within 11, 54-43. Gabe Bernard closed out the run with a three-pointer at 11:42 that made the score 54-46.
Matthew Barrow hit a three-pointer at 10:50 that stopped the Roadrunners rally and ended a scoreless drought that covered 5:46. Bernard followed with a pair of three-pointers to pull UTSA within five, 57-52, at 8:57. Brandon Chappell answered with a jumper to put Lamar back up seven, 59-52.
Barrow nailed a three-pointer as the shot clock was winding down that gave the Cardinals an 11-point lead, 70-59, with 2:03 remaining in the game. UTSA kept coming back. Nkem Ojougboh hit a pair of free throws and converted a three point play that made it a six-point game, 70-64, with 1:08 remaining.

After Chappell made two free throws, Bernard hit a three-pointer and Owens made a layup that trimmed Lamar's lead to three points, 72-69, with 38 seconds left in the game. Lamar's Alan Daniels made one of two free throws, but the Cardinals got the offensive rebounds and Daniels converted two free throws to make the score 75-69 with 19 seconds remaining the sealed the win.
Trailing 11-8 in the first half, Lamar used an 11-0 run to taka 19-11 lead on a Fairley layup. Leading 23-20, Lamar used a 12-0 run to take control of the game at 35-20 with 4:15 remaining in the opening stanza.
Fairley nearly recorded a triple-double. In addition to tying his career-high with 28 points, on 12 of 20 shooting from the field, he blocked a career-high eight shots. Barrow added 15 points, three assists and three steals. Jason Grant chipped in 10 points. Daniels was held to single-digits for just the third time this season, scoring nine points on 3 of 15 shooting from the field, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range.
Lamar shot 40 percent from the field for the game, but just 29 percent in the second half, 18.2 percent from 3-point range and 73.9 percent from the free throw line. The Cardinals outscored UTSA 22 to 13 in points off turnovers and 27 to 18 in second chance points, despite being outrebounded 53 to 48.
Abe Donlon recorded a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds to lead UTSA. Owens added 17 points and Bernard 15, hitting 5 of 11 from 3-point range in the second half.
For the game, UTSA shot 34.6 percent from the field, 25 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free throw sportsbook line.