Robert Corn named MIAA Coach of the Year

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

 Missouri Southern head basketball coach Robert Corn has been named the MIAA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year and Marquis Addison has been named a first-team All-MIAA selection as the league announced its men's basketball awards today. 

Corn, in his 25th and final season, took a team that was picked sixth by the coaches and ninth by the media and finish one game out of first place in the final league standings. The Lions finished in front of all but two teams that were picked in front of them in both polls. Corn has guided the team to its 16-straight trip to the MIAA Tournament, 21st overall, and picked up the fourth 20-win season in his career at Southern. He won his 400th game this season and currently has 409 in his career. 

Addison was named a first-team selection and this is his third All-MIAA pick after being selected to the second-team last season. He was the league's Freshman of the Year, three years ago. This season, Addison ranks 8th in the MIAA in scoring, while ranking 12th in field goal percentage, sixth in free-throw shooting and fourth in steals. He went over 1,500 points this season and has 1,560 in his career ranking sixth all-time, He also ranks second in career free-throw percentage (.835) and fourth in career steals (.218). This season Addison is averaging 16.7 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting .526 from the field and .829 from the free-throw line.

Jordan Talbert, as well as Slim Magee were both named to the MIAA's All-Defensive Team. Talbert earned third team All-MIAA status, while Magee was an honorable mention pick. 

Talbert ranks fourth in the MIAA rebounding and blocks and 29th in scoring, while ranking fourth in offensive rebounds. He holds the MSSU single-season blocks record with 61, while ranking second in career blocks (160), and third in career rebounds (687). He went over the 1,000 point plateau this year and currently has 1,006 points. Talbert is averaging 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, while he is second on the team with 43 blocks. 

Magee leads the league in field goal percentage, while ranking 11th in rebounding and third in blocks. He is on pace to set the MSSU single-season record for field goal percentage (.653) and is nine blocks away from tying the single-season MSSU record. Magee is scoring 11.9 points per game this year, while he is pulling down 6.8 boards and leads the team in field goal percentage and blocks.

The Lions will open up the MIAA Tournament this Friday at 8:15 pm from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City against the winner of the Nebraska-Kearney - Lindenwood game played tonight. The complete All-MIAA team is listed below.

Player of the YearDeShaun Cooper, Sr., G, NWMSU

Defensive Player of the YearPaul Bunch, Sr., C, ESU

Freshman of the Year Zach Schneider, Fr., F, NWMSU

Coach of the YearRobert Corn, Missouri Southern

All-MIAA First TeamDeShaun Cooper, Sr., G, NWMSU**
Craig Nicholson, So., G, FHSU**
Josh Gibbs, Sr., F, UCO [r1]
Marquis Addison, Sr., G, MSSUDillon Deck, Jr., F/C, UCM
**Unanimous Selection
[r1] Repeat First Team Selection

All-MIAA Second TeamBryton Hobbs, Sr., G, NSU
Dillon Starzl, Sr., C, NWMSU
Alex North, Jr., F, WU
Kaleb Wright, Sr., G, ESU
Dwayne Brunson, Sr., F, FHSU

All-MIAA Third TeamDevon Branch, Jr., G, PSU
Mike Dentlinger, Sr., C, UNK
Jordan Talbert, Sr., F, MSSU
Daylen Robinson, Sr., G, UCM
Connor Beranek, So., F, UNK

All-Defensive TeamPaul Bunch, Sr., C, ESU
Bryston Williams, Sr., G, NWMSU
Jordan Talbert, Sr., F, MSSUTerrence Moore, So., G, ESU
Slim Magee, Sr., C, MSSU

Honorable Mention All-MIAACharles Hammork, Sr., G/F, UCM
Aaron Anderson, So., G, UCO
Paul Bunch, Sr., C, ESU
Terrence Moore, So., G, ESU
Carson Konrade, Sr., G, FHSU
Josh Buie, Jr., G, LU
Mike Smith, Jr., G, LU
Tyler Ressel, Sr., G, LWU
Darris Smith, Jr., G, LWU
Ethan Brozek, So., F, UNK
Conner Crooker, So, G, NWMSU
Bryston Williams, Sr., G, NWMSU
Slim Magee, Sr., C, MSSU  
Ryan Devers, Jr., G, MWSU
DJ Barmore, Jr., F, SBU
Kyle Wiggins, Jr., G, WU