LSC Roundup 3-31

Schaef Hired as Basketball Coach
WEATHERFORD, Okla. -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University has turned to a neighboring school in Arkansas to find its new basketball coach, hiring Charlie Schaef on Tuesday as the new floor leader of the Bulldog program.

The 39-year old Schaef, who has spent the previous eight seasons at Ouachita Baptist University, becomes only the 13th coach in the program's 100-year history. Schaef replaces Todd Thurman who stepped aside last month to focus exclusively on his duties as the school's athletic director.

"I think with the hiring of Charlie Schaef we've made a tremendous step toward continuing the success of our men's basketball program," Thurman said. "Charlie is a terrific person with an engaging personality that fans of SWOSU will most certainly enjoy. His work ethic and his dedication to the sport are unmatched. He will put a first-class product on the floor with players that fit well within our community and campus."

Schaef has spent the last 10 seasons as a head coach first at the University of Arkansas- Monticello and later Ouachita. Both schools are NCAA Division II institutions and members of the Gulf South Conference. Before joining the OBU staff in 2001, Schaef presided over two UAM teams where he led the Boll Weevils to their first conference title in 45 years as winners of the Gulf South West Division Championship. Schaef was named the GSC Coach of the Year and the Chevrolet/National Association of Basketball Coaches South Region Coach of the Year that same season.

"I'm very excited to be a part of the SWOSU family," Schaef said. "It's an honor and a privilege to be the Bulldogs new basketball coach. I share the same vision that Todd Thurman and the rest of the administration have for Bulldog basketball. I look for us to continue to build on the foundation that is in place and compete at the top level of the Lone Star Conference."

Rams hit eight home runs in split with UCO
The Angelo State baseball team pounded out five home runs in game two to run-rule Central Oklahoma, 17-3, after falling in game one, 17-7, Sunday in Edmond, Okla.

The Rams improved to 25-11 overall and 18-8 in the Lone Star Conference while the Bronchos fell to 17-18 and 13-13.

Keith Towne, the LSC's home run leader, banged out two long balls in the game to give him 17 on the season, six short of the league record for home runs in a season. Towne, who leads all NCAA Division II hitters in home runs, also had seven RBI in the game to tie teammate Isaac Garcia's team record while Garcia had two home runs, his fifth and sixth on the year, while Chris Adamson knocked out his third on the year.
Related: ASU roundup

Buffs capture series against Tarleton State
West Texas A&M completed a successful Lone Star Conference baseball series Monday, splitting with Tarleton State on Monday and taking three of four games in the two-day series played at the Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa.

The Buffs opened with a 9-3 victory, then dropped the nightcap, 13-3, in cold and windy conditions. Sunday, the Buffs swept Tarleton State, 13-6 and 8-7. WT improved to 10-18 in LSC play, while Tarleton State is 13-13-1