Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will be back in action tomorrow as the Lions will play host to Missouri Western. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) vs. #19 Missouri Western (4-1, 4-1 MIAA)
Date: Dec. 19, 2020
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Southern leads 52-45
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (128-63 overall/at MSSU - 7th year). Will Martin (4-1 overall/at MWSU - 1st year)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 107.9 FM, AM 1560 & 1340; KXMS 88.7 FM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball
The Series
Southern leads the series with Western 52-45. The, Lions have won the last 18-of-23 match-ups. Southern is 38-11 at home, but just 13-34 in St. Joseph. Western dominated the series from 1988-1999 when the Griffons won 16-of-21 games. The Lions, however, have won 24 of the last 35 games. The 97 games played against Western is the third-most the Lions have played against a single school, behind Pittsburg State (104) and Southwest Baptist (97).
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
So far this year, the Lions lead the MIAA in rebound margin and total rebounds, while ranking second in blocked shots per game, total blocks and total rebounds per game.
NCAA Team Stat Leaders
Southern ranks in the top-ten nationally in eight different NCAA categories. The Lions lead Division II in total rebounds, while ranking second in total blocks, fourth in both free throws made and total assists, fifth in free throw attempts, sixth in three point attempts and total three pointers made and ninth in rebound margin. The team also ranks 12th nationally in total steals.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin leads the MIAA in total points, total field goals, total rebounds, and total field goal attempts, while ranking second in the league in total blocks, total assists, points per game, free throws made, free throws attempted and total minutes. Stan Scot ranks second in the MIAA in total steals, total field goals and total minutes, while Winston Dessesow ranks second in three point field goal attempts, and RJ Smith is second in total rebounds.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Martin leads Division II in total field goal attempts, total field goals made, total points and total rebounds, while ranking second in total blocks, free throw attempts and total minutes and third in both free throws made and total assists. Smith is third in total rebounds, while Scott is fourth in total steals and total minutes, while ranking fifth in total field goals made.
New Career Highs
Against Newman, both Kyle Young (23 points) and Stan Scott (19 points) set their individual career-highs for single-game scoring. Lawson Jenkins set his individual single-game record for points with 14 against Rogers State.
Records Watch
Cam Martin sits in four different MSSU career categories for the Lions. Martin currently has the top career scoring average at 23.3, while ranking fourth in career field goal percentage (.589) and eighth in career scoring (1,606).
Cam You Score A lot
Cam Martin put himself amongst the Missouri Southern single-season scoring leaders when he became only the second Lion to ever score 700 or more points, joining Taevaunn Prince in that category last season. He finished with 720 which is the second most scored in a single-season at MSSU. Martin eclipsed his total from that season with 746 last year and is the only player in Southern history to do that twice in a career.
Cam You Score A lot II
Cam Martin set the MSSU single-game scoring record at Missouri Western in 2019-20 as he scored 54 points against the Griffons. The 54 points was the most scored in Division II that year and Cam was one of only four players to hit the 50-point plateau last year. Martin had two of the top-eight scoring games this season in Division II.
The Century Mark
Jeff Boschee won his 100th career game at Missouri Southern against Washburn in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He became the quickest to 100 wins in MSSU history. The previous mark was Frank Davis who reached 100 wins in 161 games. Boschee did it in 152 games.
Bevo Francis Watchlist
For the second year in a row, Cam Martin was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watchlist. The award goes to the best player in small school basketball which encompasses Division II, Division III, and the NAIA.
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 240-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
20-Win Seasons
The win against Central Missouri last year gave the Lions 20 wins for the third-straight season and the fifth time in the last seven seasons. It is the fourth 20-win season in Jeff Boschee's six years as a head coach.
Perfection
For just the third time in program history, the Lions went perfect at home during the 2018-19 season (13-0). Only the 1969-70 (11-0) and the 1999-2000 (18-0) teams were also perfect at home. The Lions are 67-15 in Jeff Boschee's tenure at home.
Active NCAA Career Leaders
Cam Martin is in rare company among the active career leaders in NCAA Division II. Martin currently is the active career leader in points scored, field goals made, free throws made, double-doubles, scoring average, rebound average and free throws attempted. Martin also ranks third in field goal percentage. Martin also leads Division II among the group of individuals with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds.
Three's Company
The Lions broke the MSSU single-game 3-point record with 22 3's against Washburn in the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19. The 22 3's was one three-pointer off of the NCAA Tournament record of 23 in a single-game.
Lions In The Pros
Currently, there are nine active former Lions playing professionally in Europe or overseas. Skyler Bowlin (Iraklis - Greece), Elyjah Clark (Ankara Basket - Turkey), Enis Memic (Spars - Bosina), Vincent Ateba (Saint Vallier - France), Keane Thomann (BAC - Denmark), Marquis Addison (Sibiu - Romania), CJ Carr (Fjolnir - Iceland), JJ Cratit (TSV - Germany) and Jordan Talbert (Wolmirsted - Germany) all are playing professionally.
Home Sweet Home
Missouri Southern can count on some of the best fan support in Division II. This season, the Lions ranked 7th nationally in home attendance, averaging 1,809 fans per game. That number was second-best in the MIAA.
D1 Transfers
Southern welcomes in two Division I transfers to this year's team in RJ Smith and Yagizhan Selcuk. Smith came to the Lions from Sam Houston State where he started all 31 games a season ago. Selcuk came to Southern from Montana where he saw limited action as a sophomore.
How Do You Say That?
Newcomer Yagizhan Selcuk will most likely have to pronounce his name for many PA announcers this year, but to help out, we call him Yagi for short. You can pronounce his name Yagi Sell-Chook.
Reachin' A Grand
Cam Martin went over the 1,000 point plateau with his 26 points against Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 6, 2020. Martin accomplished the feat in 45 games, the fastest Lion to hit that mark. He currently has 1,606 points in his career and is in 8th place on the all-time scoring list.
Up Next
The Lions will be off for the holidays and Southern will be back in action on January 9 when the Lions travel to Pittsburg State. Tip off from John Lance Arena is set for 3:30 pm.
