Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will finish its road trip tomorrow night when the Lions take on the Blue Tigers of Lincoln University. Tip off from Jason Gym is set for 7:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (11-9, 8-6 MIAA) at Lincoln (2-15, 1-11 MIAA)
Date: Feb. 7, 2022
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.
Site: Jason Gym
Series Record: Southern leads 33-12
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (148-80 overall/at MSSU - 8th year). Ed Wilson (2-15 overall/at LU - 1st 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
The Lions lead the series between the two teams by a margin of 33-12. Southern is 17-5 at home against the Blue Tigers, while the Lions are 15-7 in Jefferson City. The Lions and Lincoln have split neutral site games, both at Pittsburg. The Lions and Blue Tigers have played in four overtime games in the series with the two teams splitting the games. The Lions have won 23 of the last 26 games against the Blue Tigers.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions lead the MIAA in offensive rebounds per game, while ranking third in assists per game, blocks per game, and total rebounds per game, while the Lions rank in the top five in 14 different categories.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Stan Scott ranks second in the MIAA in steals per game and third in total steals. Christian Bundy is third in total blocks and fourth in blocks per game, while Alex Jones ranks third in assist to turnover ratio and Winston Dessesow is fourth in three point attempts.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Stan Scott 37th in total steals and 50th in steals per game, while Winston Dessesow ranks 36th in three point attempts and Alex Jones is 40th in assist to turnover ratio.
The Lions Are Perfect When ...
Southern is perfect this season when the Lions play in overtime (2-0), allow 69 points or less (5-0), and out shoot the opponents (7-0).
Earning The Start
Avery Taggart had 17 points and five rebounds against FHSU to move into the starting lineup against UNK. Taggart responded with 17 points and a career-high seven assists against the Lopers.
Heating Up
Over the last games, Stan Scott and Avery Taggart have led the Lions on the court. Scott is averaging 19.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in that time frame, while Taggart is scoring 13.8 points and is averaging 2.8 assists per game.
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.
Stop That Thief
Stan Scott is second in the MIAA in both steals per game and total steals this year. On the season, Scott has 38 pickpockets.
Welcome Back RJ
RJ Smith has been back three games since his ankle injury in late November and has been a sparkplug for the Lions off the bench. Smith is averaging 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 62 percent from the field.
Career-Night Part 1
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 2
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 3
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 4
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 5
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.
600-300
Stan Scott and Christian Bundy both have at least 600 career points and 300 career rebounds. Scott has 756 points and 334 rebounds, while Bundy sits at 605 and 342.
Tough Schedule
The Lions have played a tough schedule this year. While the MIAA is always brutal, the Lions have played or will play four teams currently ranked in the top-25. Northwest Missouri is 4th, while Central Oklahoma (16th) and Upper Iowa (19th) are all ranked. Fort Hays State is also receiving votes.
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 276-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 come back home to start their final three home games of the season when the Lions play host to Missouri Western on Thursday and Northwest Missouri on Saturday.
