Preview- MSSU men to play Missouri Western Saturday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will look to continue their winning ways as the Lions travel to St. Joseph Saturday to take on Missouri Western. Tip off from the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 3:30 pm.  

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (12-6, 6-3 MIAA) @ Missouri Western (8-8, 4-5 MIAA) 

Date: Saturday, Jan 24, 2015
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: St. Joseph, Mo.
Site: MWSU Fieldhouse (3,750)
Series Record: Series tied at 43-43
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (12-6 overall/at MSSU). Brett Weibert (147-113 overall/18-26 at MWSU)

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 arrived at Southern, the Lions have gone 98-40, 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.

Brett Weiberg enters his second season  as the Griffons head coach after being named the fourth since 1969 in 2013. Weiberg came to Missouri Western from Northern Oklahoma College where he has been the head coach since 2006 and replaces Hall of Fame coach Tom Smith, who retired in 2013 after 25 years at the helm. In his first season Weiberg duided the Griffons to the MIAA Tournament and coached Ryan Devers to an honorable mention All-MIAA honor. Weiberg, compiled 129 career victories in seven seasons, led Northern Oklahoma to a 27-4 overall record and the OCAC conference regular season championship in the 2012-2013 campaign. 

The Series - The series between Missouri Western and Missouri Southern is tied at 43 games each. The, Lions, however have won the last 11 out of 14 match-ups. Southern is 33-11 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 19 of the last 30 games. The 86 games played against Western is the third-most the Lions have played against a single school, behind Pittsburg State (93) and Southwest Baptist (90). 

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 (.460). 

Record Breakers II - Wright is climbing the charts in career three pointers made at MSSU. He moved into the top five last week and currently sits in fourth at 148 career treys. He needs 77 to break Skyler Bowlin's record of 224.   

Record Breakers III - Wright broke the MSSU single-game three point record against Northeastern State when the junior hit nine as part of 28 points in the Lions' 90-54 win. 

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

Stingy Defense -  The Lions have held their opponents to 71 points or under in nine of their last 13 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.   

Double-Double This - Taevaunn Prince has six double-double's this season. Against Emporia State, both Prince and Lane Barlow had a double-double each. 

Big Game Tae - In the last nine games, Taevaunn Prince is averaging 18.7 points and 10.0 rebounds, while shooting 47% from the field and 83% from the free-throw line.

Heatin Up - Over the last nine games, the Lions have gone 7-2. In that time, they're out scoring their opponents by a margin of 13.4, while shooting 46 percent from the field, 38 percent from long range and 77 percent from the free throw line. They are also out rebounding their opponents by a margin of 5.3 and making 7.6 3's per game.

Perfect When - The Lions are perfect this year when they do the following things: score 90+ (4-0), have more assists (7-0) and out shoot the opponent (10-0).

NCAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank 12th nationally in free throw attempts, while ranking 8th in made free throws. They rank 32nd in free throw percentage and three point defense. Individually, Austin Wright ranks 12th in three point percentage and 27th in three's per game. Greg Renfroe ranks 32nd in total blocks and 39th in blocks per game, while Taevaunn Prince ranks 27th in made free-throws and 41st in free throw attempts.

MIAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, lead the MIAA in free throws made and three point defense. The team ranks second in free throw attempts, while ranking third in offensive rebounds and offense, fourth in blocks per game and field goal defense. Individually, Wright leads the league in three point shooting, while ranking second in three's/game. Prince ranks second in made free throws, while Renfroe ranks second in both total blocks and blocks per game. 

Up Next - Southern will be back in action on Jan. 29 when the Lions travel to Bolivar to take on Southwest Baptist. Tip off is slated for 7:30 pm.