Teams:  Missouri Southern (14-9, 11-6 MIAA) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (14-8, 10-6)

Date:Thursday, February 11, 2016
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo. 
Site:  Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240)
Series Record: UNK leads 20-12
Coaches:Jeff Boschee (34-20 overall/at MSSU). Kevin Lofton (170-133/overall/at UNK)

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

Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time series 20-12 between the two schools, but the Lions have won three out of the last five, including two wins in the MIAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons.  Southern is 8-7 at home, 2-13 on the road and 2-0 in neutral site games.The Lions have won three of the last five, but UNK had won six in a row previously, with all but one being played when the Lions were still a member of the NAIA. 

Taevaunn Amongst The Nation's Best

Taevaunn Prince leads the country in scoring, as well as free throws attempted and made and total points. He also ranks 14th in defensive rebounds, 17th in double-doubles, 31st in field goal percentage, 47th in minutes per game, 12th in rebounding, 52nd in total field goals attempted, 12th in total field goals, 24th in total minutes and 8th in total rebounds.                   

NCAA Individual Stat Leaders

Taevaunn Prince isn't the only Lion that is amongst the National Leaders. Austin Wright is 25th in minutes per game, 38th in three point field goals per game, 20th in three point percentage, 38th in total three's made, and 17th in total minutes. Bruce Marshall ranks 33rd in blocks per game and 47th in total blocks. 

NCAA Team Stat Leaders

The Lions rank fourth in free throw percentage, 7th in free throws made, while ranking 6th in three point shooting, 29th in field goal shooting, 26th in free throw attempts, 42nd in scoring and 49th in turnovers (fewest) per game.       

MIAA Individual Leaders: 

Prince leads the MIAA in defensive rebounds per game, double-doubles, field goal percentage, free throws made and attempted, points per game, total field goals, total points and total rebounds. He ranks second in rebounds, fifth in free throw percentage, and third in minutes per game. Austin Wright leads the MIAA in minutes per game and total minutes, while ranking fifth in three point attempts and second in three point percentage. Bruce Marshall ranks third in blocs per game and total blocks.      

MIAA Team Stat Leaders

The Lions lead the MIAA free throw attempts and made, as well as scoring, three pointers per game, and total three's made. The team ranks second in free throw shooting and three point shooting, third in field goal percentage, fourth in both three point attempts and blocks per game, as well as scoring margin. 

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 (.464). 

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 248 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 106-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

Taevaunn's On Fire

Taevaunn Prince is averaging 26.8 and 10.2 rebounds this season. He has led the Lions in rebounding every game but two, and in points in 20 of 23.  

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 223 free throws made this year.  He is on pace for 271 this season, which would shatter the record he previously had. 

Shoot Em Up

The Lions tied a school record at Washburn, when Southern made 15 three pointers against the Ichabods. The 15 made treys ties a mark that has been done four other times, the last in 2013 against Missouri Western. 

Mr. 200

Austin Wright had seven three pointers against Central Oklahoma to give him 201 in his career. He currently has 248 and owns the all-time record at MSSU. 

20-Point Man

Taevaunn Prince has scored 20 points or more in every game but two this season. 

30-Point Man

Taevaunn Prince has scored 30 points or more in eight different games this year. 

Mr. 1,000 

Taevaunn Prince surpassed the 1,000 point plateau this past week at Lindenwood University. He now has 1,129 points and is 14th on the all-time scoring list at MSSU. 

Chasing 1,000

Senior guard Austin Wright currently has 976 career points at MSSU and is just 24 points from 1,000.   

National Player Of The Week

Prince was named the MIAA Player of the Week on Monday and on Tuesday he was named the D2 National Player of the Week after averaging 31.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on the week. 

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 14th nationally in average attendance with 1,677 fans per game coming to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions rank 13th in total attendance with 18,447 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 5th this week. Northwest Missouri is third, while Lindenwood is sixth.  

Free Throw King

Taevaunn Prince is nearing in on the MIAA single-season free throw record. Prince has 223 free throws this season and is on pace to break the MIAA record of 252.  

Up Next

Southern will stay home, playing host to Fort Hays on Saturday afternoon.