Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will conclude it's four-game homestand tomorrow as the Lions play host to Missouri Western. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (8-6, 3-2 MIAA) vs. Missouri Western (3-9, 1-4 MIAA)
Date: January 6, 2018
Tip-Off: 3:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Lions lead 49-44
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (64-41 overall/at MSSU - 4th year). Brett Weiberg (183-186 overall/44-81 at MWSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 103.5 FM, AM 1560 KXMS 88.7 FM
Internet Audio: http://www.mssulions.com
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/mssu/mbball
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball
The Series
Southern leads the series with Western 49-44. The, Lions have won the last 16-of-20 match-ups. Southern is 36-11 at home, but just 12-33 in St. Joseph. Western dominated the series from 1988-1999 when the Griffons won 16-of-21 games. The Lions, however, have won 21 of the last 32 games. The 93 games played against Western is the third-most the Lions have played against a single school, behind Pittsburg State (99) and Southwest Baptist (95).
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
CJ Carr ranks 23rd in assitss per game and 26th in total steals, while ranking 34th in total assists, 42nd in minutes and 45th in total steals. Elyjah Clark ranks 21st in three's per game, while ranking 24th in total three's and 40th in three point attempts. Kinzer Lambert ranks 46th in field goal percentage.
MIAA Individual Leaders
Carr leads the MIAA in assists per game, steals per game and total assists. Carr ranks third in minutes per game and total steals. Clark leads the MIAA in three's per game, while ranking second in three point attempts and total three's made and fourth in minutes. Lambert ranks fourth in field goal percentage.
Freshman of the Year
Elyjah Clark was the MIAA Freshman of the Year last season. His is the sixth Lion in the history of the program to earn that honor, joining Carlos Newberry (96-97), Carlos Escalera (99-00), Skyler Bowlin (07-08), Jason Adams (08-09), and Marquis Addison (10-11).
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 156-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
Home Sweet Home
Missouri Southern can count on some of the best fan support in Division II. The Lions rank 11th nationally in home attendance this season, averaging 1,420 n fans per game. That number is fourth in the MIAA.
Super Tuesday
The Lions won their first game of the year on a Tuesday night against Randall. In Jeff Boschee's tenure, the team is 5-0 on Tuesdays.
Three's Company
The Lions shattered the previous MSSU school record for three pointers in a game against Randall as Southern made 20 three pointers against the Saints. The previous record of 15 was set in 2003 against St. Gregory's.
Holy Points Batman
The Lions scored 110 points in a win over Randall. The 110 points were the most the team has scored since they scored 113 against Southwest Baptist in 2014.
Northwest Non-Norms
Northwest Missouri came into the game with the Lions averaging giving up 58.1 points per game and Southern scored 81 points against the Defending National Champions. The Bearcats also had averaged eight turnovers per game, while the Lions forced 11 Northwest miscues.
Scoring on the Champs
Northwest Missouri averaged 58.1 points per game on defense and up until the game with the Lions had only given up 70 points or more in two games this year with 78 points against Washburn being the high. The only other team to score more than the Lions did against the Bearcats this year was Division I Duke University who had 90 points on Northwest in an exhibition game.
Big Time Comeback
The Lions trailed by as many as 15 points with eight minutes left in the first half, but closed the half to trail by just three. Southern eventually led by ten twice in the second half and won by six points.
Triple Digits
Jeff Boschee coached game number 100 against Lindenwood this year. He is 63-41 in his career as a head coach.
CJ Taketh and Giveth
CJ Carr leads the MIAA in both steals and assists this season, while ranking 26th and 23rd nationally in both those categories.
Clutch Free Throw Shooting
Southern was clutch at the charity stripe when it counted against Northwest Missouri. The Lions made 13-14 free throws in the final minute against the Bearcats.
High Scorer
CJ Carr scored 27 points against Northwest Missouri and that mark is the most points allowed to a single opposing player this year by the Bearcats.
Taking Down The Best ... Again
Northwest Missouri lost the final game of the 2015-16 season to eventual National Champion Augustana in the finals of the Central Region Championship. The Bearcats, since then, are 47-2 in their last 49 games, including the 2016-17 National Championship. Both losses have come at the hands of the Lions at home inside Leggett & Platt.
Game of Highs
The Lions either set or tied six career-highs for individuals in the game against Randall. CJ Carr (6) and Braelon Walker (2) tied career-highs in three's, while Colby Bullock set a career-high (1). Koray Gilbert (8) tied a career-high in rebounds, while LJ Ross and Vince Ftitz both had a career-high four assists.
Welcome To The Show
The Lions played freshman Christian Bundy for the game against Randall. The Nixa native had a productive 15 minutes with four points, two rebounds an assist and two blocks, going 2-2 from the field.
Lions On The Radio
The majority of the Lions games this season can be heard on the Missouri Southern Radio Network in Joplin. Southern is partnering with Fox Sports Joplin, the Lions can be heard on 101.3 FM, 103.5 FM, 88.7 FM and AM 1560.
Lions on TV
All Missouri Southern conference home games will be brought to you live this season courtesy of KGCS TV in Joplin. Fans can catch the action over the air live on Digital Channel 22 as well as on local cable systems.
Up Next
Southern will go back out on the road with a game at Lindenwood next Thursday at 7:30 pm.
