Preview- MSSU men to open MIAA against Nebraska-Kearney

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball program will open up the 2015 MIAA Basketball Tournament the same way it did in 2014 as the Lions will take on Nebraska-Kearney in the quarterfinals on Thursday night. Tip off from Municipal Auditorium is slated for 8:15 pm.   

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (18-10) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (18-9)

Date: Thursday, March 4, 2015
Tip-Off: 8:15 pm
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Site: Municipal Auditorium
Series Record: Lopers lead 19-11
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (18-10 overall/at MSSU). Tom Kropp (482-244 overall/at UNK)

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 104-44, 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.

Throughout Tom Kropp's time at Kearney State College/University of Nebraska-Kearney, he has been one of the most successful Lopers playing on the court and coaching on the sideline. Kropp is among the greatest athletes to hail from Nebraska and was named by Sports Illustrated in 2004 as one of the state's 10 greatest sports celebrities, joining the likes of Andy Roddick and Ahman Green. Along with having the second best record (482-244) in school history for men's basketball coach, Kropp was drafted in the NBA, ABA, and NFL. During Kropp's 24-year run with the Lopers, he has spent stretches of six and eight years as co-head coach; sandwiched between those two stints were nine seasons he spent as the program's head coach. Throughout his time as the head men's coach, Kropp has coached four All-Americans and reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times.

The Series - Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time series 19-11 between the two schools, but the Lions have won the two out of the last three, including a first-round win in the MIAA Tournament last year in Kansas City.  Southern is 8-7 at home, 2-12 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games. The Lions have won two of the last three, but UNK had won six in a row previously, with all but one being played when the Lions were still a member of the NAIA. Southern defeated UNK 87-79 in the MIAA Tournament last season.

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 (.459). 

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 168 career treys. He needs 57 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 81-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13. 

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

Triple-Double This - Lane Barlow recorded his first career triple-double against Lindenwood on Feb. 25 when the senior had 13 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.  

Perfect When - The Lions are perfect this year when they do the following things: score 90+ (5-0), have more assists (11-0) and out shoot the opponent (15-0).

All-MIAA - Taevaunn Prince was a second-team All-MIAA pick, while Cameron Cornelius and Lane Barlow were honorable mention selections. Greg Renfroe was named to the MIAA's All-Defensive team.   

Familliar MIAA Tournament Opponent -This time last year, the Lions were prepping for the Lopers as the Lions made their run to the 2014 MIAA Tournament Championship.

MSSU In MIAA Tournament - The Lions are 18-18 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and have a 1-0 record against UNK. Against their side of the bracket, the Lions are 1-0 against UCO, but 0-5 against UCM.     

Around The Region - Augustana won the NSIC Tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional. The GAC Tournament is going on this weekend in Bartlesville, Okla. 

NCAA Stat Leaders - The Lions, as a team, rank sixth nationally in free throws made, while ranking 18th in three point defense. They rank 12th in free throw attempts and 51st in free throw percentage. Individually, Taevaunn Prince ranks 17th in free throws made and 29th in free throw attempts. Greg Renfroe ranks 24th in total blocks and 29th in blocks per game. Austin Wright ranks fifth in three point percentage.       

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 third in free throw percentage, offensive rebounds per game, and in scoring offense. Southern ranks fourth in defensive rebounds per game, and field goal defense, while ranking fifth in total rebounds. Individually, Wright leads the league in three point shooting, while Renfroe leads in total blocks and blocks per game. Prince leads in free throw attempts, while Barlow leads in triple doubles. WRight is second in total threes and three's/game, while Prince is third in both total points and total rebounds. 

Up Next - The winner of the MSSU/UNK game will play the winner of the Central Missouri/Central Oklahoma game at 2:15 pm on Saturday.