MSSU men to hold tournament this weekend

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will play host to the Freeman Sports Medicine/Chris Tucker Memorial Classic this Friday and Saturday. The Lions will hook up with the University of Saint Mary on Friday at 7:30 pm and with Mid-America Christian on Saturday at 5 pm. 

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (0-2) vs. Saint Mary (3-2)/Mid-America Christian (5-1)

Date: Fri./Sat. 11-21/22
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm Friday - 5 pm Saturday
Location: Joplin, Mo. 
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center  (3,200)
Series Record: Southern leads 3-0 vs. MACU/0-0 vs. USM
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (1-2 overall/at MSSU). John Bishop (120-68 overall/at SMU). Willie Holley (793-517) at MACU/overall

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: FM 99.7 KBTN - Mike McClure - Play-by-play
Internet Audio: www.mssulions.com
Webcast: none
Live Stats: www.mssulions.com
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/missourisouthernlions
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball

A look at the coaches: Jeff Boschee, MSSU - Jeff Boschee is in his first season as the head coach of the Missouri Southern basketball program after serving four seasons as an assistant and associate head coach. He was named the head coach of the Lions on July 1, 2014.  Since Boschee has arrived at Southern, the Lions have went 86-33, made four consecutive MIAA tournaments and had trips to three of the last four NCAA Division II postseason tournaments, while claiming the 2010-11 MIAA regular season championship, and the 2013-14 post-season tournament championship. The 2010-11 team set the MIAA record for conference wins in a season with 19. Under Boschee's leadership, former Lion Skyler Bowlin was the MIAA's Player and Defender of the Year in 2011. He was a first-team All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American selection, being named to three different All-America teams. He was also the Region Player of the Year and a finalist for the National Player of the Year. Bowlin signed a professional contract to play basketball in the German Pro League after completing his eligibility and has since moved on to playing in Denmark.

John Bishop, Saint Mary -In April of 2008, Jon Bishop was named the head coach of the men's basketball program at the University of Saint Mary. Bishop was brought to Saint Mary to restore the excellence it achieved after winning the KCAC Championship and qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament in 2001. Seen as one of the best, young up-and-coming coaches in the college ranks, Bishop has done just that at the helm of the Spire program. In just year one, he directed one of the biggest turnarounds in all of college basketball as the Spires posted  a 16-game increase in wins as they jumped from 3-26 to 19-11 and a second-place finish in the KCAC. That evolved into the 2011-12 season this year where Bishop guided the Spires to a school-record 25 wins, an appearance in the 2012 NAIA Division II National Tournament, and a final NAIA Division II national ranking of No. 22.

Willie Hollie, Mid-America Christian - Willie Holley is in his 42nd season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 788 career victories rank first in school history and second all-time in the NAIA. Entering the 2014-15 season, Holley has announced that this year will be his last of a legendary tenure.  He coached the Evangels to a tie for second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 12-8 league record, their highest-finish as an NAIA school. He also led MACU to its first-ever SAC Tournament victory last season and had the program within one spot of qualifying for their initial NAIA National Tournament berth. After coming up just short for the NAIA Tournament, the Evangels qualified for their 23rd National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament appearance. 

New Head Coach - Southern will be under a new head coach for the first time in 25 years this season as first-year head coach Jeff Boschee will taking the reigns from Hall of Fame coach Robert Corn. 

New Coaches - Boschee returns assistant coach Nick Bradford who was on the staff last season and brings in former Missouri State coach Sam McMahon, as well as former Baker University guard Todd Johnston to round out the coaching staff. 

Defending Champs - The Lions won the 2014 MIAA Basketball Tournament in Kansas City last year, defeating Nebraska-Kearney in the opener. The Lions beat Northwest Missouri in game two and won against Central Oklahoma in the Tournament Championship.  

Regional Appearance - The Lions made the program's fifth-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament last season when the team went to Mankato, Minn. and lost to eventual National Champion Central Missouri in the round of 32. The Lions have been to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons.    

MIAA Preseason Poll - Southern was picked to finish fifth in the MIAA pre-season coaches poll. Defending national and league champion Central Missouri was picked to repeat and received ten first-place votes. Fort Hays State was picked second with two first-place votes, while Washburn and Northwest Missouri were picked third and fourth, each receiving a first-place vote. Southern was fifth, followed by Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State, Lindenwood and Pittsburg State to round out the top ten. Missouri Western, Northeastern State, Southwest Baptist, and Lincoln round out the poll. 

Record Breakers - Junior shooting guard Austin Wright set two records for the Lions last year, breaking the single-season three point percentage mark (.493) and he also is the current career-leader in that category (.443). 

Tough Schedule - Missouri Southern plays a tough non-conference schedule this season participating in two regional tournaments. The Lions will face-off with a pair of NSIC teams in the Sanford Pentagon Tipoff to start the season and the team will travel to San Antonio, Texas to take on St. Mary's and Midwestern State, both of whom are receiving votes in the preseason national poll. The Lions have five teams on their schedule this year that are receiving votes in the preseason poll. 

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

Welcome Back - Cameron Cornelius, Lane Barlow and Greg Renfroe return to the starting lineup for the Lions, as Southern returns nine players overall from 2013-14. The Lions will also have the help of three players that practiced with the team last season, but redshirted. 

Fresh Faces - The Lions have five new players on the roster this year and two more that redshirted last season for the team. Charlie Brown, Terrence Pierce and Andrew Ballock are true freshmen, while Taylor Luster, Bruce Marshall and Taevaunn Prince transfer in from either junior college or four-year institutions. Both Prince and Brandon Pines practiced with Missouri Southern last year, but redshirted. 

Halftime leads - The Lions had identical 37-36 leads at the break of each of their first two games against Northern State and Sioux Falls, but couldn't retain the lead in the second half. However, the Lions did hold on to the halftime lead against Arkansas-Fort Smith.   

Welcome Back Lane - Senior guard Lane Barlow played for the Lions for the first time since injuring his leg in preseason practices. He had a stellar first week, averaging 20 points per game, scoring 25 against Sioux Falls. 

Early MIAA Stat Leaders - After week one, Lane Barlow ranks fifth in the MIAA in both scoring and field goal percentage, while ranking seventh in assists. Greg Renfroe ranks second in blocks, while Bruce Marshall ranks fifth.  

Up Next - Southern will play host to Benedictine College on November 25 at 7:30 pm inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.