Ticket sales suspended for MSSU NCAA opener, only essential personnel allowed to be at game

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern State University Athletics Department has learned that in conjunction with an NCAA recommendation, the Northwest Missouri Athletic Department has suspended ticket sales for this upcoming weekend's NCAA Central Region Basketball Championship.

At this time, only essential personnel, players and coaches, as well as limited family attendance will be allowed at the Regional. Those that had already purchased tickets should contact the ticket office at Northwest Missouri for information about a refund.

Games are still scheduled to be played as scheduled and Northwest Missouri will provide a live video stream of each game in the Regional.

More information will be forthcoming after guidance from the NCAA tomorrow. Below is the official statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert.

Statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert:

The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. 

Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. 

While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. 

This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. 

Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.

Nationally-ranked MSSU track and field ready to compete at NCAA

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The nationally-ranked Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field teams are set to compete in the 2020 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships this Friday and Saturday (Mar. 13-14) at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.

The No. 3 ranked women have qualified 12 individuals in seven events, while the No. 7 ranked men have qualified nine individuals in six events. It is the most individuals ever to qualify for the Missouri Southern program.

The Championship Meet commences Friday at 10 a.m. with the multi events, but the Lions will first see action at 1:30 p.m. and see 11 individuals compete in nine events.

On the men's side, Josh Fulmer and Travis Petersen will represent Southern in the weight throw. They sit at No. 8 and No. 16 in the event, respectively, with marks of 20.14 meters (66-1) and 19.19 meters (62-11.5).

Dean Howard will participate in the men's pole vault at 3:20 p.m. as he enters sits at No. 6 by clearing 5.18 meters (17-0). The long jump, which starts at 4:00 p.m., will see Josh Norville, who has the No. 2 mark in the nation with a leap of 7.72 meters (25-4), and Brendan Watkins compete. Watkins is ranked No. 12 with a jump of 7.42 meters (24-4.25).

At 3:30 p.m. the men's first track event has Ryan Riddle participating in the mile prelims with finals scheduled for Saturday at 4:20 p.m. He enters the event ranked No. 13 with a time of 4:05.71. Gidieon Kimutai will race the 5,000-meter run at 5:30 p.m. where his posted a time of 14:03.08 has him sitting sixth in the event.

On the women's side, the top hurdling squad in the nation, according to the USTFCCCA Power Rankings, will open up action at 3:00 p.m. when Cornesia Calhoun-White and Kiara Smith compete in the 60-meter hurdle prelims. Both freshmen, Smith is ranked No. 4 in the event with a season-best time of 8.55 while Calhoun-White is ranked No. 8 with her time of 8.57. The finals in the hurdles are scheduled for 3:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Junior Jasmine Deckard, who qualified in three events, will open up with the 60-meter dash prelims on Friday at 3:25 p.m. She sits No. 7 in the event with her season-best time of 7.49. The final for the 60-meter hurdles are Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Deckard sits No. 2 in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.78 and will race in the prelims on Friday at 5:20 p.m. aiming for the Saturday finals at 5:40 p.m.

Kirsten Leisinger will compete in the weight throw at 4:30 p.m. where she sits at No. 19 with a throw of 18.49 meters (60-8).

Southern's Saturday action will start at 1:00 p.m. when Adrain Broadus and Watkins compete in the triple jump. Watkin's 15.14-meter (49-8.25) mark has him ranked No. 10 while Broadus' 14.99-meter (49-2.25) mark has him ranked No. 17.

Rajindra Campbell holds the No. 1 spot in the shot put with a throw of 20.07 meters (65-10.25). He will compete in the event at 2:45 p.m.

Southern qualified four in the women's pole vault, which takes place at 3:55 p.m. Emily Presley will lead the way with the No. 1 ranking in the event by clearing 4.30 meters (14-1.25). Elena Bisotto and Samantha Petry, who rank in the top ten at No. 7 and No. 10 respectively, as well as Lauren Sutherland (No. 19) will also be vaulting. Southern, who has the No. 1 power ranked Vault Squad in the NCAA is the only program with 4-vaulters in the competition.

In the throws, Payton Roberts has the nation's top throw in the shot put with a throw of 16.13 meters (52-11) and she will compete at 4:45 p.m.

The quad of Deckard, Elizabeth Adeoye, Chardae Overstreet and LaNea Wallace will race in the 4x400-meter relay on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.

Complete live results for the Championships can be found by clicking here.

MSSU men's golf finishes eighth at Arkansas Collegiate

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

El Dorado, Ark. -- The Missouri Southern men's golf team improved its second-round total by 11 strokes from round one and the Lions finished eighth at the 2020 Arkansas Collegiate, hosted by Southern Arkansas University at Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Ark.

Southern was led by Logan Greer who improved by six strokes on day two. Greer had a pai of birdies on the day and shot a 76 to finish with a 158 and finish 16th individually. Jon Lenz had a birdie on the front and remained the same from day one to two to finish with a 160 and tied for 24th.

Alec Dominic, competing as an individual, shot a 163 over the two day tournament, while Grant Sikes finished tied for 46th after carding a birdie on hole number five and shooting an 84 on day two. Taylor Haltom improved by a stroke from day one to two to finished 52nd at 171, while Jonathan Sanchez and Justun Coyle were 56th and 57th.








Southern Arkansas won the team title with a 610, finishing three strokes in front of second place Henderson State. Harding was third, just four strokes off the lead, while Southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas-Monticello, Southern Nazarene, Northwestern Oklahoma, the Lions and Louisiana College to round out the team scores.


The Lions will be back in action next week as Southern will take part in the Rogers State Invitational played at Bailey's Ranch in Owasso, Okla. on March 16 and 17.

Pl Missouri Southern 334 325 659 +83

16 Logan Greer 82 76 158 +14

T24 Jon Lenz 80 80 160 +16

T31 Alec Dominic# 79 84 163 +19

T46 Grant Sikes 86 84 170 +26

52 Taylor Haltom 86 85 171 +27

56 Jonathan Sanchez 89 90 179 +35

57 Justun Coyle# 96 88 184 +40