Late jumper by Dessenow lifts MSSU men to 76-75 win over Central Oklahoma

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Edmond, Okla. - A running jumper from Winston Dessesow with nine seconds left lifted the 21st ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team over Central Oklahoma, 76-75 inside Hamilton Field House.

Southern (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) was led in scoring by Cam Martin with a double-double 27 points and 10 rebounds, going 10-for-16 from the field. Dessesow hit five three-pointers en route to 21 points, adding four assists. Stan Scott scored 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field in 31 minutes off the bench.

Central (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) was led in scoring by Cam Givens with 27 points, going 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Justin Nimmer added 11 points.

Southern jumped out to a 9-6 lead at the 14:56 minute mark of the first half as Scott converted a turnover and his own steal to points before the first media timeout. A three from Avery Taggart with 11:41 left in the half gave the Lions a 16-12 lead and after the Bronchos had gone up 19-17, a three from Dessesow with 8:29 left put the Lions back on top 20-19.

The Bronchos took a 27-25 lead with 4:50 to go in the half, but a three from Martin with 3:35 left gave the Lions a 28-27 lead. A three from Dessesow the next trip down pushed the lead to 31-27, but a 7-2 run from the Bronchos put UCO up 34-33 with 44 seconds to go. Another three from Dessesow, his third of the half, put Southern back on top 36-34 at the break.

Southern led by seven (46-39) after a bucket from Martin with 16:44 to go in the second half, and after the Bronchos got within a bucket, Dessesow hit his fourth three of the game to make the score 49-44 with just under 15 minutes to go. A dunk from Martin followed by a layup the next trip down gave the Lions a 53-44 lead with 13:40 to go.

Martin hit a three with 9:43 left that pushed the lead to seven (59-52) and a jumper from Dessesow with 9:18 left kept the lead at seven (61-54) after a bucket from UCO the prior trip down. A bucket from Scott with 8:22 left gave the Lions their largest lead of the game at 63-54 and forced a UCO timeout.

A 9-0 run from the Bronchos tied the game at 63 with 5:20 left to play, but a pair of free throws after a huge block and rebound on the defensive end for Scott, stopped the run and gave the Lions a 65-53 lead with 4:05 to go.

The Bronchos went up for the first time in the half after a three-point play from Callen Haydon the next trip down made the score 66-65. A three-point play for UCO on its next possession gave the Bronchos a 69-65 lead with just more than three to go.

A three from Dessesow, his fifth of the game, got the Lions within one (69-68) the next trip down, but a pair of free throws from the Bronchos and a fast-break bucket the next trip down gave UCO a 73-68 lead with 1:19 to play.

A jam and a free throw from Martin cut the lead to two and a jam from Scott after a defensive stop tied the game at 73 with 56 seconds left. A free throw from the Bronchos put UCO up 74-73 with 37 seconds left and the Lions called a timeout. After the timeout, a jumper from Dessesow with nine seconds left proved to be the game-winner.

The Lions shot 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line, but trailed the Bronchos 40-34 in rebounds.

Southern will be back in action this Saturday as the Lions travel to Newman for a 3:30 pm tip off against the Jets in Wichita.

MSSU women to open season at Central Oklahoma

 

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern State University women's basketball team is set to begin the 2020 season tomorrow night on the road against Central Oklahoma. Tip off from Hamilton Field House is scheduled for 5:30 pm

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Edmond, Okla.
Site: Hamilton Field House
Series Record: UCO, leads 15-14

Coaches

MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 47-68 (5th Season)
UCO: Guy Hardaker, 267-149 (15th Season)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 107.9 and AM 1560
Live Coverage: https://www.mssulions.com/coverage

Preseason Poll

The Lions were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA after going 10-18 overall and 7-12 in MIAA play during the 2019-20 campaign. Emporia State was picked to win the MIAA with 4 first-place votes with Nebraska-Kearney picking up 6 first-place votes in second and defending Conference Campions Central Missouri rounding out the top three with 3 first-place votes. Pittsburg State was projected to finish fourth while Fort Hays State picked up the other first-place vote and rounded out the top-five.

Block Party From Down Under

Senior center Zoe Campbell erupted for a school record 62 blocks to lead the MIAA and finish the year 21st in Division II. The Caloundra, Australia native set new single-game, single-season and career block records during the season. Campbell has increased her block total each season at southern, going from 11 as a freshman to 40 as a sophomore and 62 this past season. Currently Campbell is at 113 career blocks and counting.

Block Party Understudy

Sophomore center Madi Stokes had a freshman campaign to remember as a defensive force down low. The Cassiville, Missouri native had 33 blocks on the season finishing fifth in the MIAA overall and eigth in Division II for freshman. Stokes and Campbell paced the Lions to lead the MIAA with 5.11 blocks per game and had 95 of the teams 143 blocks.

Anchors Down

Backed by the blocking and disruptive abilities of Campbell and Stokes the Lions finished the season with the fourth best total field-goal defense in the MIAA limiting opponents to shooting 38.7 percent on 1,705 attempts. The Lions make sure to protect the perimeter as well limiting opponents to 32.1 percent from 582 attempts from three-point range.

Efficient From Deep

Junior guard Kai Jones started off the season recovering from an injury but by season's end started the last eight games and shot 43.5 percent from behind the three-point line during that span to go along with 50 percent from the field. Helping the Lions to win key games down the stretch to ensure postseason play once again.

1,000-Point Scorer Joins the Pride

Carley Turnbull will suit up for the Lions for the first time and would have already scored over 1,000 points in her career. At Monmouth College a Division III institution in Illinois, Turnbull averaged 14.5 points per game and pulled down 5.9 rebounds per game over her three years for the Fighting Scots, finishing with 1,131 points.

UCO Returners

The Bronchos said goodbye to two MIAA honorable mention players in Micayla Haynes and Shatoya Bryson with Bryson being on the All-Defensive team as well. Leading the team into the season will be senior forward Kelsey Johnson a second-team All-MIAA selection who lead the team in scoring (14.1), rebounds (6.6), and had a MIAA leading field-goal percentage (60.2). Behind Johnson the Bronchos will be returning two other starters from last year in Clary Donica and Jaci Littell. In total the Bronchos bring back twelve from last seasons 18-10 overall, 12-7 in MIAA play team that finished last season in seventh the same place they are projected to finish this season.

High-Octane Bronchos

Central Oklahoma likes to get out and run looking for easy baskets and the Bronchos found them easy to come by as they averaged 74.7 points per game the fourth best in the MIAA last season and had the third most steals as well. Returning is leading scorer Kelsey Johnson with 14.1 points per game, Jaci Littell connected on 31 three-pointers shooting 39.7 percent as well as snatching 29 steals and Brooke Rayner led the team in bench scoring last season with 6.8 points per game while connecting on 26 three-pointers and nabbing 35 steals.

MSSU men's coach under isolation after wife tests positive for COVID-19- team to open regular season Thursday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The 21st ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team will open up the regular season tomorrow night when the Lions travel to Central Oklahoma to take on the Bronchos. Tip off from Hamilton Field House is set for 7:30 pm.

Game Information

Teams: #21 Missouri Southern (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Date: November 19, 2020
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Location: Edmond, Okla.
Site: Hamilton Field House
Series Record: Southern leads 11-4
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (124-61 overall/at MSSU - 6th year). Bob Hoffman (618-354 overall/11-18 at UCO)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 107.9 FM, AM 1560 & 1340; KXMS 88.7 FM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mssumensbball

The Series

Southern holds an 11-4 advantage in the series between the two teams and the Lions have won nine in a row. The first time the two teams played was in 1973 with Central Oklahoma taking that game in Joplin. 

The two teams didn't play again until 1991, then played twice more until 2013 when UCO joined the MIAA. The Lions are 6-2 at home, 3-2 on the road and 2-0 in neutral site games.

Statement from Head Coach Jeff Boschee

As part of Covid-19 health and safety protocols, staff, players and I are tested weekly for the virus. Following our most recent test, I have tested negative, but my wife Jamie has tested positive. Due to direct contact policy I will be self-isolating for period of time. 

Jamie and the girls are doing just fine, with Jamie having minor symptoms. We will continue to monitor her symptoms daily! Due to this policy I will miss our first few games, but I have great trust in my staff to motivate and lead our team during this time. 

I have assigned coach Paul (McMahon) to take my place and I anxiously await my return with our team! Go Lions!

MIAA Team Stat Leaders

Last season, the Lions, as a team, led the MIAA in defensive rebounds per game, rebound margin, scoring, total rebounds and total rebounds per game.

MIAA Individual Stat Leaders

Last season, Cam Martin led the MIAA scoring, rebounds, defensive rebounds, double-double's free throw attempts and free throws made, total field goals made, total points and total rebounds, while ranking second in blocks, field goal percentage, total blocks and total field goal attempts.

Records Watch

Cam Martin sits in three different MSSU career categories for the Lions. Martin currently has the top career scoring average at 23.3, while ranking third in career field goal percentage (.594) and fifth in free throw shooting (.815). Jennings is second in career three point percentage (.420), while Clark is the career leader in three's (365) and is fourth in free throw shooting (.816). Clark is also the all-time leader in starts (123) and games played (124).

Cam You Score A lot

Cam Martin put himself amongst the Missouri Southern single-season scoring leaders when he became only the second Lion to ever score 700 or more points, joining Taevaunn Prince in that category last season. He finished with 720 which is the second most scored in a single-season at MSSU. Martin eclipsed his total from that season with 746 last year and is the only player in Southern history to do that twice in a career.

Cam You Score A lot II

Cam Martin set the MSSU single-game scoring record at Missouri Western in 2019-20 as he scored 54 points against the Griffons. The 54 points was the most scored in Division II that year and Cam was one of only four players to hit the 50-point plateau last year. Martin had two of the top-eight scoring games this season in Division II.

The Century Mark

Jeff Boschee won his 100th career game at Missouri Southern against Washburn in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He became the quickest to 100 wins in MSSU history. The previous mark was Frank Davis who reached 100 wins in 161 games. Boschee did it in 152 games.

Bevo Francis Watchlist

For the second year in a row, Cam Martin was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watchlist. The award goes to the best player in small school basketball which encompasses Division II, Division III, and the NAIA.

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 234-straight games since Arkansas Tech in 2012-13.

20-Win Seasons

The win against Central Missouri last year gave the Lions 20 wins for the third-straight season and the fifth time in the last seven seasons. It is the fourth 20-win season in Jeff Boschee's six years as a head coach.

Perfection

For just the third time in program history, the Lions went perfect at home during the 2018-19 season (13-0). Only the 1969-70 (11-0) and the 1999-2000 (18-0) teams were also perfect at home. The Lions are 66-14 in Jeff Boschee's tenure at home.

Active Career Leaders

Cam Martin is third in career scoring average at 23.3, while ranking 6th in career double-double's and 11th in free throws made and attempted.

Three's Company

The Lions broke the MSSU single-game 3-point record with 22 3's against Washburn in the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19. The 22 3's was one three-pointer off of the NCAA Tournament record of 23 in a single-game.

D1 Transfers

Southern welcomes in two Division I transfers to this year's team in RJ Smith and Yagizhan Selcuk. Smith came to the Lions from Sam Houston State where he started all 31 games a season ago. Selcuk came to Southern from Montana where he saw limited action as a sophomore.

How Do You Say That?

Newcomer Yagizhan Selcuk will most likely have to pronounce his name for many PA announcers this year, but to help out, we call him Yagi for short. You can pronounce his name Yagi Sell-Chook.

National Ranking

The Lions are ranked No. 21 in the NABC preseason poll this week. In the history of the NABC Poll, the Lions have been ranked 79 times, including 23-consecutive weeks at one time. The team has been No. 1 once (in the 2011 season).

Reachin' A Grand

Cam Martin went over the 1,000 point plateau with his 26 points against Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 6, 2020. Martin accomplished the feat in 45 games, the fastest Lion to hit that mark. He currently has 1,466 points in his career and is in 10th place on the all-time scoring list.

Up Next

The Lions will head to Newman University for a 3:30 pm matchup this Saturday against the Jets.