Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball program is ready to open the 2023-24 season this weekend. On Friday, the Lions will face the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons, and they'll play the Bemidji State Beavers on Saturday. Both games will be played at the historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, the same venue the MIAA tournament is hosted each year. 

Game One Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (season opening weekend) vs Minnesota State Moorhead (season opening weekend)
Date: November 10
Tip-Off: 1:00 PM
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Site: Municipal Auditorium
Series Record: First meeting

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 17-13 record
MSUM: Tim Bergstraser | 2nd season at MSUM | 25-7 record

Game Two Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (season opening weekend) vs Bemidji State (season opening weekend)
Date: November 11
Tip-Off: 1:00 PM
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Site: Municipal Auditorium
Series Record: Series tied 1-1 | Last meeting: 2005-06, MSSU won 74-60

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 17-13 record
BSU: Mike Boschee | 12th season at BSU | 135-159 record

Media Coverage
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/mssumbb
Lions on Twitter: @mssumensbball; @mososports
Lions on Instagram: @mssumensbball

Scouting the Lions
Missouri Southern is entering the new year following a 17-13 (12-10 MIAA) record in 2022-23. That season marked Sam McMahon's first year as the head coach of the Lions. Following the regular season, MSSU advanced to the MIAA tournament where they defeated Northeastern State in the first round, but fell to #12 Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. During the regular season, Missouri Southern swept Central Oklahoma as they were ranked #6 and #4 in those contests. 

Five starters return for the Lions, including the team's trio of top scorers in Vinson Sigmon Jr. (368 points), Avery Taggart (360 points), and Winston Dessesow (338 points). Sigmon Jr. also led the team with 39 steals, and was second in the assists column at 71. Taggart led the Lions in assists with 96, and had 104 rebounds, 21 steals, and 8 blocks as well. Dessesow had a team-high 73 made three pointers, along with 73 rebounds, 60 assists, 21 steals, and 8 blocks. 

Sam Thompson and Parker Long were also in the starting rotation, both back for the 2023-24 campaign. At 6-10, Thompson looks to build on his 123 rebound, 21 block numbers from last year. He also went 104-180 (57.8%) from the field. Long played in 18 games last year, dishing out 44 assists and shooting 51.7% from the field. 

Scouting the Dragons
The Dragons are currently receiving votes in the NABC Preseason Poll, following their 25-7 (17-5 NSIC) season in 2022-23. After finishing second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season standings, the Dragons went 3-0 in the conference tournament to be named NSIC tournament champions. In the first round of the Central Region tournament, MSUM forced overtime against Southern Nazarene, but eventually fell to the Crimson Storm 67-64 to put an end to their season.

Their leading scorer from 2022-23 in Jacob Beeninga returns for his junior campaign. Last year, Beeninga started in all 32 games, averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per contest. He was named All-NSIC First Team, NSIC All-Tournament Team, Tournament MVP, and First Team Academic All-America honoree by College Sports Communicators. 

Dane Zimmer is the other returning starter from last year's conference championship team. In his 32 games started, the 6-7 forward averaged 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, while shooting 65.9% from the floor. He recorded double-doubles in all three tournament contests, leading to All-Tournament Team honors.  

Scouting the Beavers
The Bemidji State Beavers are coming off a 20-11 (13-9 NSIC) record for the 2022-23 season. Of those contests, two were against ranked opponents. BSU fell to #22 ranked Northern State 85-63, but handed #23 MSU Moorhead an 88-87 upset. In the NSIC postseason tournament, the Beavers defeated their opponents in the first two rounds, but fell to the eventual champions in MSU Moorhead 78-77 in the semifinals. 

BSU's leading scorer from 2022-23 in John Sutherland returns for his senior season. As a junior, the 6-7 forward led the team with 572 total points scored for an average of 19.7 in his 29 games played. Additionally, Sutherland snagged 250 rebounds, which averaged 8.6 per game. He also shot a league-high 59.0% from the field.

Although the Beavers lost Mohamed Kone, the team's leader in assists and steals, they return another 6-7 forward in Dalton Albrecht. Last year, Albrecht was the only Beaver to start in all 31 contests. He averaged 14.0 points per game, shot 53.6% from the field, came down with 150 rebounds, and had 10 blocks on the year. 

The Missouri Southern men's basketball season is presented by Arvest Bank, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.