The 15th-ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball program will play host to Pittsburg State tonight as the Lions open up MIAA play at home. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: #15 Missouri Southern (5-1, 0-0 MIAA) vs. Pittsburg State (4-1, 0-0 MIAA)
Date: Dec. 3, 2019
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo. - Robert Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Southern leads 57-47
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (106-54 overall/at MSSU - 6th year). Kim Anderson (339-189 overall/38-27 at PSU)
The Series
This will be the 105th meeting all-time between the two schools. The Lions lead 57-47 in the all-time series with 27 wins in their last 43 tries, including seven of the last eight vs. the Gorillas.
The Lions are 37-13 at home all-time vs. the Gorillas with wins in 14 of the last 17 home meetings. Southern is 18-31 at Pittsburg.
Nineteen of the last 36 games between the two border rivals have been decided by seven points or less. The 104 games played between the two schools is the most played between any two schools in MSSU history.
MIAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions, as a team, lead the MIAA in defensive rebounds per game, fewest fouls, rebound margin, fewest fouls per game, scoring defense, and total rebounds. Southern ranks second in assist to turnover ratio, fewest turnovers, scoring margin, three pointers per game, turnover margin and fewest turnovers per game.
MIAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, free throw attempts and free throws made, while ranking second in scoring.
NCAA Team Stat Leaders
The Lions, as a team, rank fifth in fewest fouls, sixth in defensive rebounds per game and rebound margin, eighth in scoring margin, 15th in scoring defense, 16th in three point defense, 17th in both fewest fouls and total rebounds per game, while ranking 18th in fewest turnovers per game. The Lions also rank 20th in assist to turnover ratio.
NCAA Individual Stat Leaders
Cam Martin is 28th in both scoring and free throw attempts, while ranking 46th in free throws made.
Streak Stopper
Coming into the 2018-19 Elyjah Clark had made a three pointer in 47-straight games, dating back to his freshman season. Clark, however, missed out on a three in the first game of the year, and ran another streak to 37 games before he failed to make a three against Culver-Stockton this year.
Corndogs ... Roary
The Lions have scored 100 or more points in each home game this season, defeating Saint Mary 113-63 and Culver-Stockton 110-46.
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 212-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.
National Ranking
The Lions are ranked No. 15 in the NABC poll this week and 19th in the D2 SID's Poll. In the history of the NABC Poll, the Lions have been ranked 65 times, including 23 consecutive weeks. The team has been No. 1 once (in the 2011 season).
Record-Breaking Sniper
Junior Elyjah Clark already has the Missouri Southern single-season record for three pointers with 110. Clark broke the career record against Fort Hays State last weekend and has 301 career three pointers now as a junior. With one season left to play, Clark now can target the MIAA record of 370.
Reachin' A Grand
Elyjah Clark went over 1,000 points in his career with 18 points against Minnesota-Crookston in 2018-19. He currently has 1,460 in his career and is the 22nd person in MSSU history to crack the 1,000 point plateau. Clark has moved into 9th place all-time, passing Matt Olson against Northwest Missouri in the 18-19 season finale. Next up is Chris Tucker with 1,520 points for 8th place.
Reachin' A Grand II
Kinzer Lambert went over the 1,000 point plateau last season and currently has 1,091 points in his career at Southern. He is the 23rd Lion to do so in the program's history and sits at 20th place on the scoring list in MSSU history.
Elyjah For Three
Clark has the top-two single-season three-point totals in MSSU history and his 301 threes made in his three-plus year career rank first. His career three-point percentage of .395 is tied for third-best all-time, while he also tied the single-game record for three's made with nine. He has the season and career record for three pointers per game, while also holding the MSSU season and career record for consecutive games with a three (47).
Up Next
The Lions will continue MIAA play this week as Southern plays host Washburn on Saturday at 3:30 pm.
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