Emporia, Kan. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will head to Kansas again on Sunday, ready to face the Emporia State Hornets in another regular season matchup.     

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (6-10, 4-6 MIAA) vs Emporia State (12-6, 5-5 MIAA)
Date: January 21
Tip-Off: 3:30 PM
Location: Emporia, Kan.
Site: White Auditorium
Series Record: MSSU leads 55-33 | Southern has won seven of the past ten matchups. 

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 23-23 record
ESU: Craig Doty | 6th season at ESU | 90-70 record

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - 101.7 FM The Vault
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 currently has a 6-10 (4-6 MIAA) record in the 2023-24 season. They began the year with a split in their opening tournament, falling to MSU Moorhead who has spent time at the top of the national rankings, but taking down Bemidji State 69-61. In their first home game, the Lions handled Central Christian 92-56. MSSU fell in both contests at the Double Tree Thanksgiving Classic, Illinois Springfield taking the first game 96-77, and Drury holding off Missouri Southern 76-70 in the second game. In their final non-conference contest of the season, the Lions fell to the Rockhurst Hawks. 

To begin conference play, MSSU nearly completed an upset bid over #15 Northwest Missouri on their court, but fell 78-74. Closing out that series, the Lions fell on a last second shot to then-undefeated Missouri Western, 62-61. In their home conference opener, the Lions fell 73-63 to #3 nationally ranked Central Oklahoma. The Lions bounced back with a strong 99-77 win over Newman, shooting lights out in that contest, 58.3% from the field and 90.9% from the free throw line. They nearly picked up their second straight 20+ point win, taking down Central Missouri 75-56 in Warrensburg. Again, the Lions shot well, going 28-49 (57.1%) from the field as a team. To wrap up 2023, Missouri Southern fell to Lincoln at their house 76-65. Kicking off 2024, the Lions went to Pittsburg and ended the Gorillas' five-game win streak with an 81-74 victory. They started off hot against the Tigers of FHSU who are ranked second in the MIAA standings, but fell 85-67. Southern bounced back and had a solid offensive outing against Nebraska-Kearney, taking down the Lopers 88-78. Against a Washburn team that hasn't lost at home this year, the Lions shot nearly 50% from beyond the arc but fell 70-65.

Winston Dessesow was back for the first time since December 16 and he had a major impact, leading the Lions with 19 points scored. From deep, Dessesow went 5-5, and added 4 rebounds.

Vinson Sigmon Jr. did a bit of it all on Wednesday, scoring 12 points while recording team highs in rebounds (7) and assists (4). On the year, he is averaging 11.1 points per game with 31 assists. 

Darius Dawson is leading the team with 13.5 points per contest and 6.6 rebounds per game. From the field, Dawson is shooting 56.5% and has 18 blocks.

Sam Thompson continues to be a threat on defense, recording 20 blocks on the year.

Scouting the Hornets
The Emporia State Hornets enter Sunday's contest with a 12-6 (5-5 MIAA) record on the year. After kicking off the season with a five-point loss, the Hornets went on a nine-game win streak. In that stretch, ESU defeated Southwestern Oklahoma, Truman State, and Indianapolis in non-conference play, and took down Washburn, Rogers State, and Northeastern State in MIAA play. Missouri Western put an end to that streak, and Northwest Missouri beat them in that same series. They then picked up a couple of wins against Wichita teams of Friends University and Newman, but went on a three-game skid against Central Oklahoma, Lincoln, and Central Missouri. Most recently, the Hornets defeated Pittsburg State 70-61. 

Two of the league's highest scorers reside on ESU's roster. Solomon Oraegbu is averaging 18.1 per game, and Alijah Comithier is at 17.0 per contest. Four of the five Hornet starters are averaging 13+ ppg. 

Owen Long is tied for the most three point field goals per game in the MIAA, making 2.8 per contest. He is also averaging 3.4 assists per contest, good for 11th in the conference. 

Darius Yohe leads the MIAA in blocked shots, totaling 57 on the year for an average of 3.2 per game. The second most in the conference is 34. 

Kaden Evans leads the MIAA in steals, snatching 40 on the year, 2.2 per game. 

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