Preview- MSSU men to play Northwest Missouri

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team will look to end a recent two-game skid as the Lions travel to Maryville to take on Northwest Missouri in a mid-week MIAA matchup. Tip off from Bearcat Arena is slated for 7:30 pm Wednesday.     

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (14-8, 8-5 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri (17-5, 10-4 MIAA) 

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Maryville, Mo.
Site: Bearcat Arena (2,500)
Series Record: Northwest leads 27-21
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (14-8 overall/at MSSU). Ben McCollum (93-57 at NWMO/overal)

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 100-42, 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.

No stranger to Northwest Missouri State or hard work, Ben McCollum has helped return that mentality back into Bearcat men's basketball. McCollum was tabbed the 20th head coach in Northwest men's basketball history prior to the start of the 2009-10 season. He is 93-57 at Northwest. The 2013-14 Bearcats reached the NCAA Sweet 16, going 24-9 overall. The regular-season MIAA co-champions went 16-3 in conference play to earn McCollum his second MIAA title. It was also the team's third consecutive 20-plus win season, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 2007-08 season, prior to McCollum's arrival. DeShaun Cooper was named the MIAA Player of the Year and was an All-America honoree by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

The Series - Northwest leads the overall series 27-21, but Southern has won nine of the last 11 games. Missouri Southern is 15-7 at home against Northwest Missouri, while the Lions are 5-16 in Maryville. Northwest has won all but one of the neutral site games.While many of the games have been close, Northwest's biggest victory margin was 27 points, in the 2006 MIAA Tournament. Southern's most-lopsided win was a 93-67 decision on January 29, 2000. Four out of the last six games have been decided by a basket or less. 

 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 (.463). 

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 157 career treys. He needs 68 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 75-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 17 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 13 games, Taevaunn Prince is averaging 17.9 points and 9.2 rebounds, while shooting 48% from the field and 84% from the free-throw line.  

Heatin Up - Over the last 13 games, the Lions have gone 9-4. In that time, they're out scoring their opponents by a margin of 9.5, while shooting 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from long range and 77 percent from the free throw line. They are also out rebounding their opponents by a margin of 2.1 and making 7.2 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 (8-0) and out shoot the opponent (12-0).

NCAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank sixth nationally in free throws made and 15th in free throw attempts. They rank 17th in three point defense an 30th in free throw percentage. Individually, Austin Wright ranks fifth in three point shooting, while ranking 52nd in total threes made. Taevaunn Prince ranks 21st in free throws made and 31st in free throw attempts, while Greg Renfroe ranks 37th in total blocks and 46th in blocks per game.          

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

Up Next - Southern will be back in action on February 14 when the Lions play host to Missouri Western. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3 pm.