Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball team kicks off their final stretch of the regular season on Wednesday, playing host to the Washburn Ichabods. The second meeting between the teams this season will tip-off at 7:30pm in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.          

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (13-13, 11-9 MIAA) vs Washburn (17-9, 13-7 MIAA)
Date: February 28
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: MSSU trails 53-36 | Southern fell 70-65 in the meeting earlier this year

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 30-26 record
WU: Brett Ballard | 7th season at WU | 134-73 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 record of 13-13 (11-9 MIAA) 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. They picked up a big road win against once-ranked Emporia State on the road, but fell to Northeastern State in Joplin. Following that loss, the Lions defeated Rogers State by 22 points and Newman by 23 points. Missouri Southern battled with Central Oklahoma at their place, but fell 65-61. 

The team had a solid week against LU and UCM, recording a perfect week for the first time this season. Following that week, the Lions took down Pittsburg State for the second time this year, 75-72. They started their final road trip of the regular season with a 73-55 win over UNK, led by a Darius Dawson double-double. In their final road contest of the regular season, the Lions fell in overtime to #14 FHSU 67-65.  

Parker Long recorded a double-double against FHSU, putting up 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He nearly had a triple-double, dishing 7 assists as well.

Avery Taggart scored his 1000th point on Saturday, and is averaging 10.6 this season. He has made a team-high 50 three-point field goals and 70 assists.

Darius Dawson continues to lead the team with 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. From the field, he is shooting 55.7% (137-246) and has 30 blocks. 

Vinson Sigmon Jr. is up to 12.2 points per game, shooting 85.5% from the FT line, and leads the team with 31 steals. He has also made 37 three point FG.

Scouting the Ichabods
The Washburn Ichabods enter Wednesday's contest with a 17-9 (13-7 MIAA) record on the year. That places them tied for third in the conference standings heading into the final week of regular season play. Missouri Southern fell 70-65 at their place on January 17 when they had not lost a game at home yet this year. The only team to win in their arena this season is Northwest Missouri, edging Washburn 75-72. On the road, the Ichabods are 4-7. Following the MSSU game, WU defeated Pittsburg State 81-74, but hit the road and suffered a 71-58 loss to FHSU. They rebounded with an 89-68 win over UNK, but three of their four wins since then have been decided by 6 points or less. Most recently, the Ichabods defeated Central Missouri by a score of 68-49 in Topeka. 

The team leads the MIAA in rebounds per game with 37.6 and has the second highest rebounding margin at +6.3. 

Andrew Orr leads the Ichabods with 13.5 points per game and is shooting 54.4% from the field. He has contributed 149 rebounds (5.7 per game) and has recorded 22 blocks this year.

Jack Bachelor has played in all 26 for Washburn, starting in just 7, but is averaging 11.7 points per game and leads the team with 96 assists. 

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