Teams:      Missouri Southern (16-11, 13-8 MIAA) vs. Pittsburg State (16-11, 11-10 MIAA)

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2016
Tip-Off: 3:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo. 
Site:  Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240)
Series Record: Southern leads the series 50-46
Coaches:Jeff Boschee (36-22 overall/at MSSU). Kevin Muff (92-78, overall/at PSU)

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

The Lions lead 50-46 in the all-time series with 20 wins in their last 35 tries vs. the Gorillas.  The series now has some extra bragging rights as the two schools will be vying for a pride Trophy that pitts the two athletic departments against each other in a total points series. The Lions are 33-13 at home all-time vs. the Gorillas with wins in ten of the last 13 home meetings. Southern is 15-31 at Pittsburg. Sixteen of the last 29 games between the two border rivals have been decided by seven points or less. Pittsburg State defeated MSSU 91-65 in last year's MIAA Tournament Championship and 89-80 earlier this season. The 96 games played between the two schools is the most played between any two schools in MSSU history. 

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, 20th in double-doubles, 42nd in field goal percentage, 47th in minutes per game, 14th in rebounding, 51st in total field goals attempted, 11th in total field goals, 25th in total minutes and 12th in total rebounds.                   

NCAA Individual Stat Leaders

Taevaunn Prince isn't the only Lion that is amongst the National Leaders. Austin Wright is 34th in minutes per game, 38th in three pointers per game, 15th in three point percentage and 22nd in total minutes. Bruce Marshall ranks 42nd in blocks per game and 52nd in total blocks.  

NCAA Team Stat Leaders

The Lions rank third in free throw percentage, 8th in free throws made, while ranking 9th in three point shooting, 38th in both fewest turnovers and field goal shooting, 37th in free throw attempts, 47th in scoring and 25th 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 sixth in minutes per game. Austin Wright leads the MIAA in minutes per game, and total minutes, while ranking second in three point percentage, and third in three point field goals per game and total three's made. 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 and free throw shooting, third in three point shooting and scoring margin, while ranking fourth in field goal percentage, defensive rebounds, three point attempts and total rebounds. 

Record Breakers

Senior shooting guard Austin Wright has set two records for the Lions this year in career threes (258 and counting), as well as single-season three's (81 and counting), breaking his record from last year of 79. He already had the single game three-point record (9) and also owns the single-season three point percentage mark (.493) while also being the current career-leader in that category (.463). 

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 110-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

Game of Firsts 

In the Lions' win at Central Missouri last week, Southern did two things for the first time this season, they won after trailing at halftime and won despite being out shot by its opponents. 

Sir Scores Alot

Taevaunn Prince set the MSSU single-season scoring record at Southwest Baptist this year when he notched his 695th point of the year, surpassing Chris Tuggle who had previously set the record in the 1986-87 season. He currently has 720 points on the season.

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 253 free throws made this year.  He is on pace for 262 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. 

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 year at Lindenwood University. He now has 1,232 points and is 12th on the all-time scoring list at MSSU. He needs 40 more points to become the all-time leading scorer for a 2-year player in MSSU history, passing Russell Bland and moving to 11th all-time. 

Single-Season Three's

Senior guard Austin Wright broke his own school record for three's made in a season and has 81 this year. He now has the top two three point seasons in MSSU history.

Chasing 1,000

Senior guard Austin Wright went over the 1,000 point plateau at Southwest Baptist this past week. He currently has 1,027 career points.   

National Player Of The Week

Prince was named the D2 National Player of the Week averaging 31.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on that 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 15th nationally in average attendance with 1,684 fans per game coming to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions rank 16th 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 9th in the first week of the poll. Northwest Missouri is 2nd, Fort Hays is fourth, Nebraska-Keaney is sixth and Pittsburg State is eighth. 

Kansas City Here We Come

The Missouri Southern men's basketball program has earned a bye to Kansas City for this year's MIAA Basketball Tournament. It is the 18th time year in a row, the Lions have made the post season tourney. 

Free Throw King

Taevaunn Prince broke the MIAA single-season free throw record at Central Missouri. Prince has 253 free throws this season.

Up Next

Southern will see who they face in the MIAA Tournament. The Lions have clinched a spot in Kansas City and will play on Friday, March 4 inside the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City.