Preview- MSSU men to play at Pittsburg State today

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will renew its rivalry with Pittsburg State as the Lions travel west to take on the Gorillas in a State Farm Trophy Series Matchup. Tip off from John Lance Arena this Saturday is slated for 3:30 pm.    

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (15-10, 9-7 MIAA) @ Pittsburg State (16-8, 12-4 MIAA) 

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Site: John Lance Arena (5,000)
Series Record: Southern leads 49-44
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (15-10 overall/at MSSU). Kevin Muff (72-63 overall/at PSU)

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 101-44, 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.

Kevin Muff enters his fifth year as head basketball coach at Pittsburg State University after being hired to the position on April 5, 2010. Muff has compiled a 56-55 (.505) record in four seasons at Pitt State. He led the Gorillas to an 18-10 record – the squad's highest win total since the 2006-07 campaign – and an appearance in the second round of the MIAA Postseason Tournament in 2011. Muff guided the Gorillas to a 17-14 record and a berth in the finals of the MIAA Postseason Tournament in 2012. Muff, 51, a former assistant coach at Pitt State from 1990-93, returned to campus after serving 12 seasons as head coach at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., where he averaged 21 wins per season over his last five years at the school. Prior to his assignment at Cloud County, Muff coached five seasons at Wamego High School, leading the school to a Kansas Class 4A state runner-up finish in 1998. He was named the Flint Hills Area Coach of the Year during the 1997-98 season.

The Series - The Lions lead 49-44 in the all-time series with 19 wins in their last 32 tries vs. the Gorillas. The Lions and Gorillas have split the series past seven seasons. The series now has some extra bragging rights as the two schools will be vying for the State Farm Trophy as part as the State Farm Trophy Series that pitts the two athletic departments against each other in a total points series. The Lions are 33-13 at home all-time vs. the Gorillas with wins in ten of the last 13 home meetings. Southern is 14-30 at Pittsburg. Fifteen of the last 27 games between the two border rivals have been decided by seven points or less.The 93 games played between the two schools is the most played between any two schools in MSSU history. 

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.     

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 159 career treys. He needs 66 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 78-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

Stingy Defense -  The Lions have held their opponents to 71 points or under in 12 of their last 20 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. 

Perfect When - The Lions are perfect this year when they do the following things: score 90+ (4-0), have more assists (9-0) and out shoot the opponent (13-0).

NCAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank seventh nationally in free throws made, while ranking 16th in three point defense. They rank 14th in free throw attempts and 37th in free throw percentage. Individually, Austin Wright ranks seventh in three point shooting, while Taevaunn Prince ranks 25th in free throws made and 36th in free throw attempts. Greg Renfroe ranks 34th in total blocks and 36th in blocks per game.         

MIAA Stat Leaders - As a team, the Lions lead the MIAA in free throw attempts and free throws made, while also leading in three point defense. The team ranks secon din free throw percentage, while ranking third in offensive rebounds per game and scoring offense. Southern ranks fourth in defensive rebounds per game, while ranking fifth in both field goal defense and total rebounds. Individually, Wright leads the league in three point shooting, while Prince leads the MIAA in both free throw attempts and free throws made. Renfroe ranks second in both total blocks and blocks per game, while Wright ranks second in three's per game and total three's.  

Up Next - Southern will be back in action on February 25 when the Lions play host to Lindenwood. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7:30 pm.