Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will be back on the road as the Lions will travel to Claremore, Okla. to take on Rogers State this Thursday. Tip off from the Claremore Expo Center is slated for 7:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (6-6, 6-6 MIAA) at Rogers State (6-6, 6-6 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 28, 2021
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Claremore, Okla.
Site: Claremore Expo Center
Series Record: MSSU leads 2-1
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (130-67 overall/at MSSU - 7th year). Justin Barkley (213-100 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 three games in the series, with Lions holding a 2-1 record against the Hillcats. RSU won the first meeting in Joplin, but the Lions have won the last two including a matchup in last year's MIAA Tournament and the prior meeting this season.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions rank lead the league in total blocks and total rebounds, while ranking second in total rebounds per game, blocked shots per game, defensive rebounds per game and rebound margin.
NCAA Team Stat Leaders
Southern ranks second in total blocks, fourth in total rebounds, 13th in free throw attempts, 14th in free throws made and total assists, while ranking 16th in both blocks per game and defensive rebounds per game and 21st in three point attempts.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin leads the MIAA in scoring, free throw attempts, total field goal attempts, total field goals made, and total points. MArtin ranks second in total rebounds and field goal percentage, while ranking third in double-double's, defensive rebounds per game and free throws made. Stan Scott leads the MIAA in total blocks, while ranking third in blocks per game. RJ Smith is third in offensive rebounds per game.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Martin ranks in the top five nationally in seven different categories including leading D2 in free throw attempts. Martin ranks second in both total points and total field gaols made, third in total field goal attempts, fourth in scoring, fifth total rebounds, sixth in double-double's and ninth in free throws made. Stan Scott ranks 11th in total blocks, while ranking 19th in total field goals made and 24th in total minutes. RJ Smith is 11th in total rebounds.
See Stan Score
Stan Scott obliterated his previous career-high in scoring against Fort Hays State as the senior scored 32 points on the evening. His previous career high was 20. Stan went 11-of-20 from the field and added ten rebounds on the night.
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 23.4, while ranking fourth in career field goal percentage (.588) and in career rebounds (697) and sixth in career scoring (1,756).
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 that 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 246-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
20-Win Seasons
The win against Central Missouri in 2020 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 total points, scoring average, field goals made, free throws made, free throws attempted and double-double's. Martin ranks fourth in active career rebounds, while also leading Division II among the group of individuals with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds, a group that has only five members.
Rare Air
With just 14 points and three rebounds, Cam Martin will become only the second player in MSSU history to record 1,700 points and 700 rebounds, joining John Thomas who finished his career with 1,700 points and 1,536 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. Last 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 1,756 points in his career and is in 6th place on the all-time scoring list, having passed both Skyler Bowlin and Marquis Addison with 33 points at Pitt State this season. Next up on the list is John Thomas at No. five with 1,770 points.
Up Next
The Lions will be back on the road next week as Southern travels to Northeastern State on Saturday for a 3:30 tip.
