The No. 25 ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team will head to the Islands this week as the Lions participate in the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan.
Southern will take on the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras on Tuesday at 1 pm, while taking on Minot State on Wednesday at 11 am and Minnesota-Crookston on Thursday at 11 am. All game times are CST.
Series History
In the program's history, the Lions are 1-0 against UPR-Rio Piedras and have never played Minot State or Minnesota-Crookston. Southern faced off with UPR-Rio Piedras in 2008 when the Lions last traveled to Puerto Rico. Southern won that matchup 73-68. The Lions went 3-0 the last time they played in this tournament.
Scouting the Competition
Minot State is 3-2 so far this season with wins against Lincoln, Yellowstone Christian and Dickinson State, while the Beavers have lost to Southwest Baptist and Montana State - Billings. Minot was picked to finish sixth in the NSIC North preseason men's basketball poll.
The Beavers have three players averaging in double-figures for points. David Akibo averages 14.4 points per game, while Kyle Beisch averages 14.0 points per contest. Max Cody scores 12.2 points per game, while Dorian Aluyi scores just under 10 (9.6) points per game. Akibo leads the team in rebounding at 7.6 rebounds per game, while Cody has a team-high 23 assists on the season.
The Beavers score 73.6 points per game, while limiting opponents to 66.4 points per game. MSU shoots 48 percent from the field and 32 percent from long-range, while making 77 percent of its free throws.
Minnesota-Crookston is 4-1 this year with wins against Arkansas-Monticello, Oak Hills Christian, Valley City State and Concordia - Minnesota. The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the NSIC North men's basketball preseason poll.
UMC has three scoring in double-figures, led by Harrison Cleary at 20.6 points per game. Ben Juhl averages 13.6 points per game, while Chase Knickerbocker scores 11.8 points per game. Chase Johnson averages a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game, while Cleary averages a team-high 4.2 assists per contest.
As a team, the Golden Eagles average 84.8 points per game, while limiting opponents to a 59.4 per game scoring average. UMC shoots 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from long-range, while making 75 percent of its free throws. The Golden Eagles average 40.4 rebounds per game, with a 6.4 rebounding margin.
Lion Tidbits
The Lions (2-1) have won two in a row. Southern won 85-76 this past week at Missouri-St. Louis.
Cam Martin leads the way as the sophomore averages 30.0 points per game and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest. He is shooting 71 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line. Martin ranks second nationally in scoring, while ranking 13th in field goal percentage, 19th in field goals made and 29th in total points. He leads the MIAA in scoring and field goal percentage.
Elyjah Clark ranks 15th nationally in minutes per game and leads the MIAA in that category as the junior is averaging just under 40 minutes per game. He is averaging 12.7 points per game, while pulling in 6.0 rebounds per game. He has 207 three pointers in his career, which ranks fourth overall, just six behind third place Jason Adams. Clark is 52 three's from tying Austin Wright for the career mark.
Kinzer Lambert averages 18 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per contest. The junior is averaging 34 minutes per game, while shooting 44 percent from the field.
Reggie Tharp is scoring 12.0 points per game, while dishing out a team-high 17 assists, averaging 5.7 assists per contest.
Lions On The Air
The Lions' games against UPR-Rio Piedras and Minot State will both be broadcasted on the Missouri Southern Radio Network. Mike Barlow will bring you the action from Puerto Rico and the games will be streamed on www.mssulions.com.
Next Up
After these games, the Lions will be back in action with the home-opener, playing host to Baptist Bible College on November 29. Tip off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7 pm.
No comments:
Post a Comment