Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will be back in action tomorrow as the Lions will head west to tangle with Pittsburg State. Tip off between the Lions and Gorillas from John Lance Arena is set for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-3, 4-3 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (4-4, 4-4 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 9, 2021
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Site: John Lance Arena
Series Record: Southern leads 59-47
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (128-64 overall/at MSSU - 7th year). Kim Anderson (351-210 overall/50-48 at PSU)
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
This will be the 107th meeting all-time between the two schools. The Lions lead 59-47 in the all-time series with 29 wins in their last 45 tries, including nine of the last ten vs. the Gorillas.The Lions are 38-13 at home all-time vs. the Gorillas with wins in 15 of the last 18 home meetings. Southern is 19-31 at Pittsburg. Twenty of the last 37 games between the two border rivals have been decided by seven points or less.The 106 games played between the two schools is the most played between any two schools in MSSU history.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
So far this year, the Lions lead the MIAA in blocked shots per game, total blocks, and total assists, while ranking second in defensive rebounds per game, rebound margin and total rebounds.
NCAA Team Stat Leaders
Southern ranks in the top-ten nationally in five different NCAA categories. The Lions lead Division II in total rebounds, while ranking third in total blocks, fifth in total assists, ninth in three point field goal attempts, and tenth in total three pointers made. Southern ranks 13th in both free throw attempts and free throws made, while ranking 14th in rebound margin, 18th in total steals and 20th in both total rebounds and defensive rebounds per game.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin leads the MIAA in scoring, total blocks, total field goal attempts, total field goals made, and total points, while ranking second in total minutes, and third in defensive rebounds per game, free throws made and total rebounds. Stan Scott ranks second in total field goals made, third in total points, field goal percentage and total steals, while RJ Smith ranks third in offensive rebounds per game.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Martin leads Division II in total field goal attempts, total field goals made, and total points, while ranking third in free throws made, fourth in total minutes, fifth in free throw attempts and total rebounds, seventh in double-doubles and ninth in total assists. Scott ranks seventh in total field goals made, eighth in total steals, ninth in total points and 13th in total minutes. RJ Smith ranks seventh in total rebounds, while Christian Bundy is fourth in total blocks.
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 fifth in career field goal percentage (.587) and eighth in career scoring (1,639).
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 241-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, and free throws attempted. 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. 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 1,639 points in his career and is in 8th place on the all-time scoring list.
Up Next
The Lions will be back in action on January 14 as Southern travels to Washburn to take on the Ichabods. Tip off from Lee Arena is slated for 7:30 pm.
