Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will close out the regular season tomorrow night as the Lions travel to Central Missouri. Tip off from the Multipurpose Building is slated for 7:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: (RV) Missouri Southern (19-8, 14-4 MIAA) at Central Missouri (19-7, 11-6 MIAA)
Date: February 22, 2018
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM
Location: Warrensburg, Mo
Site: Multipurpose Building
Series Record: Central leads 38-26
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (75-43 overall/at MSSU - 4th year). Doug Karleskint (79-38 at UCM/168-72 overall)
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/ucmo/mbball
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball
The Series
Central leads the series 38-26 and the Mules have won seven of the last 12 games. The Lions are 16-13 vs. UCM at home and 9-20 on the road. Central has won all but one of the neutral site battles between the two clubs. The Lions are 1-5 all-time against the Mules in MIAA Tournament games after getting a win over then No. 18 ranked UCM in 2015 and Southern has played Central Missouri once in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
CJ Carr is 17th nationally in assists per game, while ranking 20th in total steals and 22nd in both steals per game and total assists. He aslso ranks 42nd in minutes per game. Elyjah Clark ranks 6th in both total three pointers made and three pointers per game, whlie ranking 8th in three point percentage and 24th in three pointes attempted.
The Killer C's
CJ Carr and Elyjah Clark are two of the top players in the MIAA. Carr leads the MIAA in assists per game, steals per game, total assists and total steals. Clark leads the MIAA in three point attempts, three point percentage, three pointers per game, and total three pointers made.
MIAA Team Leaders
The Lions rank second in the MIAA in scoring offense and offensive rebounds, while ranking third in three pointers per game, three point percentage, total three pointers made and total rebounds per game.
Freshman of the Year
Elyjah Clark was the MIAA Freshman of the Year last season. He 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 171-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
Bomb's Away
Elyjah Clark tied the single-game MSSU record for three pointers in a game at Pittsburg State. The sophomore had nine three's in the game, tying Austin Wright's record that was set in 2015.
Bombs Away 2
The Lions have broke the MSSU single-season record for threes by a team with 259, breaking last year's record of 250.
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.
Home Sweet Home
Missouri Southern can count on some of the best fan support in Division II. The Lions rank 12th nationally in home attendance this season, averaging 1,530 fans per game. That number is fourth in the MIAA.
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.
Keys to Success
So far this season the Lions are a perfect 7-0 when they score 90 points or more and they are 13-0 when they out-shoot their opponents. In Jeff Boschee's tenure, the team is 6-0 when the two teams tie in rebounding
Comeback Kids
The Lions trailed by as many as 15 points with eight minutes left in the first half against Northwest Missouri, but closed the half to trail by just three. Southern eventually led by ten twice in the second half and won by six points. Against Missouri Western, the Lions trailed by nine midway through the second half before making the comeback. Against Emporia State, the Lions trailed by nine points with seven minutes left, before mounting a comeback. The Lions also trailed by eight with nine minutes left to Central Missouri before winning. Southern has five second-half comebacks this year.
CJ Taketh and Giveth
CJ Carr leads the MIAA in both assists and steals this season, while ranking 17th and 22nd 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.
Hard Workin' Men
CJ Carr has played in all 40 minutes of the last six games in a row and in eight games all year long. Carr ranks 42nd nationally in minutes per game. Elyjah Clark has played 40 minutes in the last five games in a row.
NCAA D-II Central Regional Poll
The Lions moved up to No. 6 this week in the NCAA Division II Central Region Poll. Southern started at No. 9 in the poll last week.
Ranked Opponents
The Lions played their fourth ranked opponent this season when they defeated 6th-ranked Northwest Missouri on Feb. 17. The Lions are 3-1 this year against ranked opponents, losing to then 25th-ranked Northern State, but beating top-ranked Northwest Missouri once and again when they were ranked sixth, as well as 25th ranked Central Missouri.
Strange Things
At Central Oklahoma, both the Lions and the Bronchos had identical 24-28 marks from the free-throw line and against Central Missouri, the Lions and Mules had identical rebounding lines of nine offensive, 18 defensive and 27 total.
Records Watch
Sophomore Elyjah Clark had the Missouri Southern single-season record for three pointers last season as a freshman with 89 and has already broke that record this year with 100 and counting. This year, to date, Clark is on pace for 104. Clark has 189 career threes and is well over halfway to the career record of 265 set by Austin Wright. If Clark continues on this pace, he will finish is career with 395 threes.
Chasin' A Grand
CJ Carr went over the 1,000 point mark in his short, two-year career at Southern in the win at Northwest Missouri. He now has 1,041 points and is the 20th Lion to reach that number. Elyjah Clark has 877 points.
Kansas City, Here We Come
The Lions have secured one of the top four seeds in the MIAA Tournament and a bye to Kansas City for next week's tournament.
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
The Lions will play on Friday, March 2 in the MIAA Basketball Tournament in Kansas City. The Lions are assured of at least a top three seed and will play in one of the first two games of the day at 12 or 2:15 pm.
