Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will be back at it tomorrow as the Lions will travel across the state line and take on Pittsburg State. Tip off from John Lance Arena is slated for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: (RV/RV) Missouri Southern (19-5, 10-4 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (14-9, 7-7 MIAA)
Date: February 16, 2019
Tip-Off: 3:30 PM
Location: Pittsburg, Kan
Site: John Lance Arena
Series Record: MSSU leads 55-46
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (95-50 overall/at MSSU - 5th year). Kim Anderson (331-83 overall/31-22 at PSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 107.9 FM, AM 1340, 1560, KXMS 88.7 FM
Internet Audio: http://www.mssulions.com
Live Video: http://themiaanetwork.com/mssulions
Live Stats: https://pittstategorillas.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball
The Series
This will be the 102nd meeting all-time between the two schools. The Lions lead 55-46 in the all-time series with 25 wins in their last 40 tries vs. the Gorillas. The Lions are 36-13 at home all-time vs. the Gorillas with wins in 13 of the last 16 home meetings. Southern is 17-31 at Pittsburg. Nineteen of the last 33 games between the two border rivals have been decided by seven points or less.The 101 games played between the two schools is the most played between any two schools in MSSU history.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions, as a team, lead the MIAA in three point attempts, defensive rebounds per game, free throw attempts, free throws made and total rebounds. The Lions rank second in assists per game, scoring, three pointers per game, total three pointers made and total assists, while ranking third in assist to turnover ratio, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds per game and fewest fouls per game.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, free throw attempts and free throws made. Elyjah Clark leads the MIAA in three point attempts and both minutes per game and total minutes. Martin ranks second in double-double-s, and third in offensive rebounds, scoring, rebounds, and total points. Clark ranks second total three pointers made, while ranking third in three pointers per game.
Preseason No. 1
The Lions were picked number one in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll this season.
Streak Stopper
Coming into the season Elyjah Clark had made a three pointer in 47-straight games, dating back to his freshman season. Clark, however, missed out on a three in the first game of the year, but has made a three in each game since, taking his current streak to 23.
Cam You Score A Lot?
Cam Martin tied a MSSU single-game record with 49 points at Minnesota State. The mark tied Carl Tyler from 1984. Coincidently, in his second game as a Lion, former guard CJ Carr scored 47 points against the same Minnesota State team two years ago.
Coach of the Year
Jeff Boschee was named the 2018 MIAA Coach of the Year. Boschee has coached the Lions to a 20-win season for the second time in his four-year career. Last year, the Lions were picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll and the Lions finished the season second overall with two wins over regular-season MIAA Champ Northwest Missouri.
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 197-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
Dunk You Very Much
The Lions had nine dunks in the game against Baptist Bible on 11/29.
Records Abound
The Lions broke or tied four school records in the 137-50 win over Baptist Bible. Southern tied the school record for points in a game (137) and field goal attempts (95), while breaking the records for rebounds (77) and assists (37).
Hard Working Man
Elyjah Clark leads the MIAA in minutes per game and total minutes.
Success At Charity
In the last eight games, the Lions are shooting 80 percent from the free throw line (180-226). In that same stretch, Clark (.914) and Braelon Walker (.909) are shooting 90 percent or higher.
Three's Company
The Lions shattered the previous MSSU school record for three pointers in a game against Randall last year 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. This season, the Lions rank 8th nationally in home attendance, averaging 1,605 fans per game. That number is 3rd in the MIAA.
Holy Points Batman
The Lions scored 137 points against Baptist Bible to tie a school record. It was the most points since the scored 110 last year against Randall were the most the team has scored since they scored 113 against Southwest Baptist in 2014.
Super Tuesday
The Lions are 2-0 on Tuesday's this year and a perfect 8-0 in Jeff Boschee's tenure.
Corndogs Jackie
Southern is averaging 85 points per game this season and the Lions have topped the century mark five times.
Overtime's A Charm
For the third-straight time, the Lions and Minnesota State needed overtime to settle the score. The Lions won 100-98 this year and have won two of the three overtime games in the last three years between the two teams.
Bevo Francis Award Watchlist
Sophomore Cam Martin has been named to the Small College Basketball Bevo Francis Award Watchlist. The award is for the Division II Player of the Year. Martin was named to the top-100 list and Friday was named as a top-50 player.
Record-Breaking Sniper
Junior Elyjah Clark already has the Missouri Southern single-season record for three pointers with 110. Clark broke the career record against Fort Hays State last weekend and has 267 career three pointers now as a junior. With one season left to play, Clark now can target the MIAA record of 370.
Reachin' A Grand
Elyjah Clark went over 1,000 points in his career with 18 points against Minnesota-Crookston in the Puerto Rico Tournament. He currently has 1,300 in his career and is the 21st person in MSSU history to crack the 1,000 point plateau. Clark has moved into 11th place all-time, passing Russel Bland. Next up is Taevaunn Prince at 1,303 points.
Elyjah For Three
Clark has the top-two single-season three-point totals in MSSU history and his 267 threes made in his two-plus year career rank first. His career three-point percentage of .408 is second-best all-time, while he also tied the single-game record for three's made with nine. He has the season and career record for three pointers per game, while also holding the MSSU season and career record for consecutive games with a three (47).
Coaches Show
This year, Jeff Boschee and women's coach Ronnie Ressel will be part of the Missouri Southern Coaches Show. The show is Monday night's at 6 pm and originates from Hackett's Hot Wings in downtown Joplin. The show can be heard live on 101.3 and 107.9 FM, as well as streamed on www.mssulions.com.
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, 101.7 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 be back at it Tuesday evening, playing host to Pittsburg State. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7:30 pm.
