MSSU men play host to Missouri Western Saturday

(From MSSU Lions Athletics)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday when the 22nd ranked Lions play host to visiting Missouri Western inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

Game Information

Teams: (22) Missouri Southern (13-3/7-2 MIAA) vs.  Missouri Western (8-9, 3-6 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014
Tip-Off: 3:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site:Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240)
Series Record: MWSU leads 43-41
Coaches: Robert Corn (401-302 overall/at MSSU). Brett Weiberg (8-9, overall and at MWSU)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio: 97.9 FM Big Dog - Mike McClure - Play by Play
Internet Audio: www.mssulions.com
Webcast: www.mssulions.com
Live Stats: livestats.prestosports.com/mssu
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/missourisouthernlions
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball

The Series: Missouri Western leads the overall series 43-41, however the Lions have won the last nine out of 12 matchups.  Southern is 31-11 at home, but just 10-32 in St. Joseph. Southern defeated Western in the final regular season game of 2007 in a winner take all game to gain a spot in the MIAA Tournament.Western dominated the series from 1988-1999 when the Griffons won 16-of-21 games. The Lions, however, have won 17 of the last 28 games.

MIAA Team Ranks: The Lions lead the MIAA in scoring margin, scoring defense, field goal defense, blocks, and offensive rebound percentage. Southern is second in turnover margin, steals and field goal percentage, while ranking third in rebounding, rebounding margin, assists and offensive rebounds, while ranking fourth in defensive rebounds, scoring offense and free-throw shooting and fifth in rebounding defense.

MIAA Individual Ranks: Marquis Addison ranks 11th in the MIAA in scoring, while Cameron Cornelius ranks 27th. Addison ranks fourth in free-throw shooting and seventh in steals, while Slim Magee leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, while ranking fourth in blocks and 12th in rebounding. Jordan Talbert ranks third in blocks and fifth in rebounding, while Lane Barlow ranks eighth in assists and 12th in assist to turnover ratio. Randy Clark ranks eighth in assist to turnover ratio.    

National Ranks: The Lions, as a team, rank eighth nationally in scoring margin and 12th in blocks per game. The Lions rank 16th in total blocks, while ranking 20th in both field goal defense and win-loss percentage. They rank 22nd in free-throws made and 24th in field goal percentage, while ranking 35th in scoring offense, 36th in asssists and 37th in free-throws attempted. Southern also ranks 48th in both free-throw percentage and scoring defense. 

The Lions are perfect when: Missouri Southern is perfect this season when the Lions have scored 90+ points (6-0), allowed 69 points or less (7-0), out shoot opponents (11-0), make more three's (3-0), and when the game is decided by 20 or more points (7-0).   

Passing 1,000: Marquis Addison became the newest member of the 1,000 point club at MSSU with 20 points against Central Missouri last season. He currently has 1,376 points, moving in front of Russell Bland for 10th place all-time in scoring at Southern. He needs four points to pass Terry Shumpert for 9th all-time and is the fourth Lion in the past three seasons to pass 1,000, joining Jason Adams, Skyler Bowlin and Keane Thomann.      

Corn Wins No. 400: Coach Robert Corn won his 400th career game on Jan. 15, 2014 in a 70-50 win at home over Lindenwood He now has 401 wins and is second among active coaches (Bob Chipman).

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 38-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.

Points a Plenty: With the 101 points scored against Ottawa, it is the first time in the program's history the Lions have scored at least 100 points or more in three-straight games. The Lions have scored 100 or more in 65 games in the program's history, including six times in the 85-86 season.

Here's Hoping History Repeats Itself: This time last year when the Lions and Griffons faced off inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, then freshman Austin Wright led the attack from long-range as the Lions tied a school record with 15 three pointers in a 95-69 win.

Lions In The D-2 Poll: Southern jumped back in the NABC Division II poll this week at the No. 22 spot. The Lions finished the 2011-12 season at  No. 23 in the final poll. They started the season ranked No. 4 and moved up to No. 2 and No. 1 before being ranked No. 7, No. 6, No. 14, No. 23, No. 16, No. 14, No. 23, No. 19, No. 16, No. 10 and No. 16 last week. The No. 1 ranking was the highest the program has ever been ranked. Southern has been ranked 55 times in the program's history. The most consecutive weeks Southern has spent in the poll is 23-straight weeks, which covers part of the previous two seasons.

Up Next: The Lions will play back-to-back road games next week at Southwest Baptist on Thursday and at Central Missouri on Saturday