Teams:  Missouri Southern (11-8, 8-5 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri (13-5, 10-3 MIAA)

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Maryville, Mo.
Site: Bearcat Arena (2,500)
Series Record: Northwest leads 29-21
Coaches:Jeff Boschee (31-19 overall/at MSSU).Ben McCollum (127-69 at NWMO/overall)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio:FM 99.7 KBTN - Mike McClure - Play-by-play
Internet Audio:www.mssulions.com
Live Video:www.mssulions.com
Live Stats: www.mssulions.com
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter:@mososports; @mssumensbball

The Series

Northwest leads the overall series 29-21, but Southern has won nine of the last 14 games. Missouri Southern is 15-10 at home against Northwest Missouri, while the Lions are 5-16 in Maryville. Northwest has won all but one of the neutral site games. While many of the games have been close, Northwest's biggest victory margin was 27 points, in the 2006 MIAA Tournament. 
Southern's most-lopsided win was a 93-67 decision on January 29, 2000. Four out of the last eight games have been decided by a basket or less. 

Taevaunn Amongst The Nation's Best
Taevaunn Prince leads the country in scoring, as well as free throws attempted and made. He also ranks 8th in defensive rebounds, 10th in double-doubles, 45th in minutes per game, 9th in rebounds per game, 42nd in total field goals attempted, 13th in total field goals made, 27th in total minutes, 2nd in total points and 7th in total rebounds.                  

NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Taevaunn Prince isn't the only Lion that is amongst the National Leaders. Austin Wright ranks 54th in three's attempted, 31st in minutes per game, 38th in three point percentage and 21st in total minutes. Bruce Marshall ranks 54th in blocks per game. 

NCAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions rank 7th in free throw shooting, while ranking 6th in free throws made, 16th in free throw attempts, 22nd in three point shooting and 63rd in scoring.      

MIAA Individual Leaders: 
Prince leads the MIAA in defensive rebounds per game, double-doubles, free throws attempted and made, scoring, rebounding, and total points and total rebounds. Prince also ranks fourth in minutes per game and total steals, second in offensive rebounds per game, and second in total minutes. Austin Wright leads the MIAA in three point percentage, and total minutes, while ranking third in three point attempts and minutes per game. Bruce Marshall ranks third in blocks per game and total blocks.       

MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions lead the MIAA free throws made and attempted, as well as scoring offense. The team ranks second in free throw percentage and total three pointers made per game, while ranking third in steals per game, three point defense, three point shooting and total rebounds. 

Record Breakers
Senior shooting guard Austin Wright set two records for the Lions last year, including the single-season three point record (79) and the single game three-point record (9). He also owns the single-season three point percentage mark (.493) and is also the current career-leader in that category (.454). 

Record Breakers II
Wright also owns the career three pointers made record as he passed Skyler Bowlin for first all-time on that list. He made four three's at Pittsburg State on January 16 and has 233 in his career.    

Three Point Streak
The Lions failed to make a three-pointer at Arkansas Tech in their match-up in 2012-13. It was the first time in 403 games that Southern had failed to hit a three pointer, dating back to Jan. 20, 1999 against Missouri S&T. The Lions have had a three in 102-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

Taevaunn's On Fire
Taevaunn Prince is averaging 26.5 and 10.5 rebounds this season. He has led the Lions in rebounding every game but one, and in points in 16 of 19.  

Block Party
Bruce Marshall had a career game against Southwest Baptist when the senior center had a career-high seven blocks. The seven blocks is tied for second-most in a single game at MSSU. 

Free Throws By the Dozen
Taevaunn Prince tied a single-game (regulation) record against Southwest Baptist when he hit 19 free throws in the game. Prince broke his own single-season record at Lincoln and now has 193 free throws made this year.  He is on pace for 285 this season, which would shatter the record he previously had. 

Mr. 200
Austin Wright had seven three pointers against Central Oklahoma to give him 201 in his career. He currently has 233 and owns the all-time record at MSSU. 

20-Point Man
Taevaunn Prince has scored 20 points or more in every game but one this season. 

30-Point Man
Taevaunn Prince has scored 30 points or more in five different games this year. 

Mr. 1,000 
Taevaunn Prince surpassed the 1,000 point plateau this past week at Lindenwood University. He now has 1,016 points and is the 19th player in MSSU history to score 1,000 points.  

Season-Ending Injury
Southern swing man LJ Ross will sit out the 2015-16 season after pre-season knee surgery revealed more damage than thought. 

Bevo Francis Small College Player Of The Year Watchlist
Taevaunn Prince has been named to the Bevo Francis Small College Player of the Year Watchlist. The list, which includes 100 players over the ranks of D2, D3 and NAIA has five total MIAA players amongst the group.  

Huge Fan Support
Missouri Southern ranks 10th nationally in average attendance with 1,659 fans per game coming to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions rank 11th in total attendance with 16,590 fans this season. Southern ranks fifth in the MIAA in average attendance.

Lions In The D2 Basketball Writers Regional Poll
The Missouri Southern men's basketball program is ranked 8th this week. Northwest Missouri is third, while Lindenwood is fifth and Lincoln is 10th.  

Up Next
Southern will come back home as the Lions play host to Missouri Western on Saturday. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3 pm.