Preview- MSSU men to play Culver-Stockton Tuesday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will finish off its non-conference schedule Tuesday night as the Lions welcome Culver-Stockton to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Tipoff from Robert Corn Court is slated for 7 pm. 

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (6-4, 1-1 MIAA) vs. Culver-Stockton (6-5, 1-1 HAAC) 

Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Tip-Off: 7:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240)
Series Record: Southern leads 2-1
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (6-4 overall/at MSSU). Jack Schrader (225-320 overall/60-46 at CSC)

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: FM 99.7 KBTN - Mike McClure - Play-by-play
Internet Audio: www.mssulions.com
Webcast: www.mssulions.com
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.

Jack Schrader, Culver-Stockton - Jack Schrader, formerly of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., is in his fourth season as Wildcat mentor after he was named Culver-Stockton College's 23rd head men's basketball coach on March 4, 2011. Schrader has led the Wildcats to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in two of his three seasons at the helm of the Wildcat program. In 2012-13, Schrader was recognized as the HAAC Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a school record 26 victories (aginast 9 losses) and a spot in the quarterfinals of the national tournament, their first appearance in Kansas City since 1959. The Wildcats and Schrader followed up that historic season with a 24-8 overall record in 2013-14 and their second consecutive trip to the national tournament. Schrader is 54-41 in his three seasons at C-SC.

The Series - The Lions hold the all-time series record against Culver-Stockton two games to one. Southern, however, hasn't played the Wildcats since the 1971-72 season when the Lions won 83-75 at home. The Lions are 2-0 at home and 0-1 on the road against CSC. 

New Coaches - Jeff Boschee along with assistant coach Nick Bradford who was on the staff last season, bring 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.    

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). 

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

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. 

Stingy Defense - The Lions have held their opponents to 71 points or under in four of their last five games. Against Benedictine, Southern held the Ravens to 48 points, nearly 20 points below the season average for the No. 4 ranked team in the NAIA. The total is the lowest opponent output since the Lions held Central Bible to 39 points in 2012.  

Bench Scoring - The Lions' bench has outscored the opponent's bench in six of the ten games this season. Overall, Southern's bench has outscored the opponents 298-227.

Outshoot The Opponent - One thing that has been consistent this season is that when the Lions outshoot their opponents, they win, going 5-0 in games where that happens. They have, however, gone 0-4 when they are outshot. 

NCAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank eighth in free-throws attempted and third in free-throws made, while ranking 46th in three's made and 49th in total rebounds. Individually, Austin Wright ranks 32nd in threes made, while Greg Renfroe ranks 42nd in total blocks. Lane Barlow ranks 38th in total steals and Cameron Cornelius ranks 33rd in total minutes.   

MIAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank second in both free-throw attempts and free-throws made, while ranking third in both total blocks and rebounds, while ranking fifth in three's made. Individually, Renfroe leads the MIAA in total blocks, while ranking second in offensive rebounds and third in blocks per game. Taevaunn Prince ranks third in free-throws made, while Cornelius ranks fourth in minutes and Barlow is fourth in steals. 

Up Next - Southern will play its last games before Christmas break, hosting Emporia State at 2 pm on Saturday, December 20.