Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball will wrap up their regular season schedule with a home contest against the MIAA-leading Northwest Missouri Bearcats. Saturday's contest will also be senior day, recognizing the program's seniors for their contributions to the team.            

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (13-14, 11-10 MIAA) vs #5 Northwest Missouri (23-4, 19-2 MIAA)
Date: March 2
Tip-Off: 3:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: MSSU trails 44-24 | Southern fell 78-74 in the meeting earlier this year

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 30-27 record
NWMSU: Ben McCollum | 15th season at NWMSU | 388-90 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 13-14 (11-10 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. Their second meeting with Washburn went down to the wire, as the Ichabods made a three in the last seconds to seal a 77-72 win. 

Martin Macenis had a career night against the Ichabods, dropping 23 points on 10-18 shooting from the field. He is averaging 11.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg.

Avery Taggart made 5 three's on Wednesday, and is averaging 10.9 ppg this season. He has made a team-high 55 three-point field goals and 74 assists.

Darius Dawson continues to lead the team with 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. From the field, he is shooting 56.0% (140-250) and has 30 blocks. 

Vinson Sigmon Jr. is averaging 12.0 points per game, shooting 85.9% from the FT line, and leads the team with 32 steals. He has also made 38 three point FG. 

Scouting the Bearcats
The Northwest Missouri Bearcats enter the final game of the regular season with a 23-4 (19-2 MIAA) record, riding a 12 game win streak. In the latest national polls, the team was ranked #5 by the media and #6 by the coaches. Two of their four losses came within the first four games of the season, dropping a 63-56 contest to Southwest Minnesota State, then a 75-72 game to Emmanuel (Ga.). Their first conference game was against MSSU in Maryville, as the Lions fell just short 78-74. The Bearcats made 32 free throws in that contest. Fort Hays State handed Northwest Missouri their first MIAA loss of the year, 57-49 in Hays. NWMSU also fell to Missouri Western in St. Joseph, 76-70. Since that loss, the Bearcats have won 12 in a row, including a 64-61 double overtime win against Fort Hays State. 

The team holds the highest point margin in the MIAA at +13.5 and are the only team shooting better than 50% at 51.0% from the field. Similarly, they are shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc, the only  MIAA team above 40%.

Wes Dreamer is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game. He is also snagging a team-high 6.7 rebounds per contest. 

Bennett Stirtz has been the MIAA Athlete of the Week three times this year, averaging 15.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, leading the team with 88 assists and 32 steals as well. 

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