Joplin, Mo. -- The 21st ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team will be back at it this Saturday as the Lions play host to Rogers State. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: #21 Missouri Southern (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) vs. Rogers State (1-2, 1-2 MIAA)
Date: Dec. 5, 2020
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Series tied at 1-1
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (127-63 overall/at MSSU - 7th year). Justin Barkley (208-96 overall/at RSU - 10th 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
The two teams have only played two games in the series, with the Hillcats taking the meeting 105-93 last year in the year in Joplin. The Lions returned the favor with a 76-70 win over RSU in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals in 2020.
Back At The Helm
Head coach Jeff Boschee has finished his Covid quarantine and will be back on the sidelines this week to coach the Lions.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
So far this year, the Lions lead the MIAA in three point attempts, total three pointers made, total assists, total blocks, total rebounds, and total steals, while ranking second in free throw attempts and made.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Winston Dessesow leads the MIAA in three point attempts, while ranking second in total field goal attempts and total minutes. Dessesow ranks third in total field goals made. Cam MArtin leads the MIAA in double-doubles, total field goal attempts and total field goals made, total minutes, total points and total rebounds. Martin is second in total three pointers made, while Stan Scott ranks second in total field goals made and total points, while ranking third in total field goal attempts, total minute and total rebounds. RJ Smith is second in total rebounds.
New Career Highs
Against Newman, both Kyle Young (23 points) and Stan Scott (19 points) set their individual career-highs for single-game scoring.
Records Watch
Cam Martin sits in four different MSSU career categories for the Lions. Martin currently has the top career scoring average at 23.2, while ranking fourth in career field goal percentage (.588) and eighth in career scoring (1,576).
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 239-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 66-14 in Jeff Boschee's tenure at home.
Active NCAA Career Leaders
Cam Martin is third in career scoring average at 23.1, while ranking 6th in career double-double's and 11th in free throws made and attempted.
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.
National Ranking
The Lions are ranked No. 21 in the NABC preseason poll. In the history of the NABC Poll, the Lions have been ranked 79 times, including 23-consecutive weeks at one time. The team has been No. 1 once (in the 2011 season). Southern is at No. 25 in the D2SIDA preseason poll.
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 1,537 points in his career and is in 8th place on the all-time scoring list.
Up Next
The Lions will continue their home stand as Southern will play host to Northwest Missouri on December 17 at 7:30 pm.
