Teams:    Missouri Southern (14-11, 11-8 MIAA) at Southwest Baptist (10-14, 5-13 MIAA)

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2016
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Bolivar, Mo. 
Site:  Meyer Sports Center (2,500)
Series Record: Southern leads the series 52-41
Coaches:Jeff Boschee (34-22 overall/at MSSU). Clark Sheehy (21-32 at SBU/203-138 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

Southern leads the series 52-42 and has won nine of the last 11 against SBU after dropping the previous nine games in a row against the Bearcats. This has been a series of streaks as from the 1976 season through the 1984-85 season, the series saw the two teams have streaks of six, seven then six again. SBU's largest win streak was nine, while the Lions' largest streak is nine done from the 98-99 season through the 2001-02 season. Southern is 32-17 at home, while 19-25 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games. The 94 games played against SBU is the second-most games played against one school following the 96 vs. PSU. 

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 15th in defensive rebounds, 22nd in double-doubles, 28th in field goal percentage, 42nd in minutes per game, 15th in rebounding, 51st in total field goals attempted, 9th in total field goals, 23rd in total minutes and 10th in total rebounds.                   

NCAA Individual Stat Leaders

Taevaunn Prince isn't the only Lion that is amongst the National Leaders. Austin Wright is 54th in three pointers attempted, 25th in minutes per game, 40th in three pointers per game, 21st in three point percentage and 16th in total minutes. Bruce Marshall ranks 40th in blocks per game and 51st in total blocks.  

NCAA Team Stat Leaders

The Lions rank third in free throw percentage, 9th in free throws made, while ranking 10th in three point shooting, 32nd in field goal shooting, 42nd in free throw attempts, 44th in scoring and 40th 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, rebounds per game, total field goals, total points and total rebounds. He  ranks second in total minutes, fifth in free throw percentage and minutes per game. Austin Wright leads the MIAA in minutes per game, total three's made and total minutes, while ranking second in three point percentage, and third in three point field goals per game. Bruce Marshall ranks third in blocks per game and total blocks.      

MIAA Team Stat Leaders

The Lions lead the MIAA free throw attempts and made, as well as scoring, and total three's made. The team ranks second in three's per game, free throw shooting and three point shooting, fourth in field goal percentage, three point attempts and 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 (.461). 

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 253 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 108-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

Taevaunn's On Fire

Taevaunn Prince is averaging 26.7 and 10.0 rebounds this season. He has led the Lions in rebounding every game but two, and in points in 22 of 25.  

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 233 free throws made this year.  He is on pace for 261 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 253 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 nine different games this year. 

Mr. 1,000 

Taevaunn Prince surpassed the 1,000 point plateau this past week at Lindenwood University. He now has 1,180 points and is 12th on the all-time scoring list at MSSU. He needs 92 more points to become the all-time leading scorer for a 2-year player in MSSU history, passing Russell Bland. 

Chasing 1,000

Senior guard Austin Wright currently has 997 career points at MSSU and is just three points from 1,000.   

National Player Of The Week

Prince was named the D2 National Player of the Week last 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 50 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 1,684 fans per game coming to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions rank 12th in total attendance with 21,892 fans this season. Southern ranks fifth in the MIAA in average attendance.

Lions In The NCAA Central Region Poll

The Missouri Southern men's basketball program is ranked 10th in the first week of the poll. Northwest Missouri is third, Fort Hays is fourth, Lindenwood is sixth, Nebraska-Keaney is seventh and Pittsburg State is ninth. 

Free Throw King

Taevaunn Prince is nearing in on the MIAA single-season free throw record. Prince has 233 free throws this season and is on pace to break the MIAA record of 252.  

Up Next

Southern will continue the road swing with a game at Central Missouri this Saturday. Tip off from the Multipurpose Building is slated for 3:30 pm.