Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will finish off its brief two-game home stand as the Lions play host to Emporia State tomorrow afternoon. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 3:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (8-5, 5-2 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (13-3, 8-2 MIAA)
Date: January 15, 2022
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Southern leads 55-31
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (145-76 overall/at MSSU - 8th year). Craig Doty (97-71 overall/48-49 at ESU - 3rd Year).
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - SOMO Sports Joplin - 101.3, AM 1560 & KXMS 88.7 FM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball
Series Info
Missouri Southern holds a 55-31 advantage in the series with Emporia State. Southern has won 18 of the last 23 and 14 of the last 17. The Lions have a 32-10 record against Emporia in Joplin, and are 22-21 in games played at Emporia. The Lions have won the only neutral site game. The Southern-Emporia series has produced eight overtime games, including two double overtime thrillers. The Lions have won six of the overtime games. Missouri Southern's biggest margin of victory was 43 points, 125-82, on Jan. 19, 2002. Emporia State's biggest victory spread was in 2007, (Jan. 17, 2007) defeating the Lions 105-67 (32 points).
Postponement
The game with Missouri Western in St. Joseph for Monday, January 17 has been postponed due to Covid protocols within the Western program.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions lead the MIAA in offensive rebounds per game, while ranking second fewest fouls and steals per game, while ranking third blocks per game, and fourth in assists per game, three point percentage and turnovers forced. Southern is in the top five of 11 different categories.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Stan Scott leads the MIAA in steals per game and total steals, while Christian Bundy leads the MIAA blocks per game. Bundy is third in the MIAA in offensive rebounds per game.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Stan Scott ranks 12th in steals per game, while ranking 17th in total steals. Winston Dessesow 46th in three point attempts.
See Stan Score
Stan Scott helped lead a huge second-half comeback as the Lions won on the road at Rogers State. Scott and the Lions trailed by six at the break, but outscored the Hillcats by 20 in the second half to come away with the win. Scott ended the game with 26 points and ten rebounds, as well as a career-high five steals, going 10-of-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line.
Comeback Kids
The Lions trailed by as many as 13 points in the game with Central Oklahoma, but a tip-in from Christian Bundy with 0.4 seconds left on the clock completed the comeback for Southern against the Bronchos.
Buzzer Beater Bundy
Christian Bundy had a pair of buzzer-beaters against Central Oklahoma and Newman at home. Bundy had a tip-in with 0.4 seconds left to give the Lions the win against UCO, and Bundy hit a three-pointer as the first half ended against Newman to lead by four.
Have A Week RJ
RJ Smith had a heck of a week in week two as the senior averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block and a steal each. He shot 52 percent from the field, 83 percent from behind the three point line and 88 percent from the free throw line.
Career-Night Part 1
RJ Smith had a career-high 25 points and ten rebounds against Truman State. He went 5-of-6 from long-range, while dishing out five assists.
Career-Night Part 2
Avery Taggart was perfect against sixth-ranked Truman State as he had a career-high 18 points, going 6-of-6 from the field, 4-of-4 from long-range and 2-2 from the free throw line.
Career-Night Part 3
Winston Dessesow had a career-high 26 points against Southwest Baptist as he went 9-of-17 from the field and 6-of-13 from the three-point line.
Career Night Part 4
Martin Macenis had career-highs in nearly every category against Central Oklahoma at home. Macenis posted career-highs with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block and a three pointer made, while also making five field goals.
Career Night Part 5
Alex Jones posted a career-high of 14 points against Central Oklahoma as he helped key a 13-point comeback against the Bronchos.
Career-Night Part 6
Christian Bundy had a pair of career-highs against Lincoln. The junior from Nixa had a career-high in points with 29 and free throws made with 14.
Career-Night Part 7
Ndongo Ndaw posted a career-high eight rebounds against Lincoln.
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.
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 270-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
Lions In The Pros
Currently, there are ten active former Lions playing professionally in Europe or overseas. Skyler Bowlin (Telekom Baskets - Germany), Marquis Addison (Groningen - Holland), Yagizhan Selcuk (Buraspor Drumazlar - Turkey), Elyjah Clark (Olimpico - Argentina), Taevaunn Prince (AS-Police - Mali) Enis Memic (Bosna Royal - Bosina), Keane Thomann (BAC - Denmark), Jordan Talbert (SBB Baskets - Germany), Vincent Ateba (Saint Vallier Basket Drome - France) and Lawrence Brown (Chicago Legends) all are playing professionally.
D1 Transfers
Southern will have six NCAA Division I transfers on its roster this year with three returning from last season and three newcomers this year. Stan Scott (Oakland), Avery Taggart (Southern Illinois), and RJ Smith (Sam Houston State) return from a year ago with Alex Jones (Lipscomb), Ndongo Ndaw (Indiana State) and Odell Wilson (North Dakota State) joining the team this year.
How Do You Say That?
Newcomer Ndongo Ndaw pronounces his name Ndongo (Nongo) Ndaw (Now).
Up Next
The Lions will head out on the road for a pair of games at Fort Hays State on Thursday and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
