MSSU men's basketball home opener Monday against Central Christian College

(From MSSU Athletics)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team returns from their season opening tournament in Kansas City this past weekend to host their home opener Monday evening. With a 7:00 PM tipoff, the Lions will play host to the Central Christian College Tigers.

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (1-1) vs Central Christian College (2-3)
Date: November 13
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett and Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: MSSU leads 1-0 | 89-44 final score on 11/26/22

Coaches
MSSU: Sam McMahon | 2nd season at MSSU | 18-14 record
CCC: Tony Romero | 15th season at CCC | 230-201 record

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - SOMO Sports Radio - 101.3 FM / 1560 AM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mssumbb
Lions on Twitter: @mssumensbball; @mososports
Lions on Instagram: @mssumensbball

Scouting the Lions
Missouri Southern split their opening tournament with Minnesota State Moorhead and Bemidji State, giving them a 1-1 start to the year. On Friday, the Lions fell 99-81 to MSU Moorhead, the 2022-23 NSIC tournament champions. The next afternoon, MSSU bounced back with a 69-61 victory over Bemidji State.

Darius Dawson recorded the team's first double-double of the year against Bemidji State, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds. Heading into Monday's contest, Winston Dessesow is one point shy of 1,000 in his career. He also jumped to 5th in career three point field goals made.

Scoring is currently led by Darius Dawson with 13.5 points per game, with Cam Williams right behind at 13.0 per contest. Dawson also leads the Lions with 9.0 rebounds per game, and blocks with 3 total. Several Lions have two steals this year, Dawson, Dessesow, and Williams, and Vinson Sigmon Jr. has a team-high seven assists on the year.

Scouting the Tigers
The Central Christian College Tigers enter Monday's contest with a 2-3 record in 2023-24. To begin the year, the Tigers faced Southwestern College where they fell to the Builders 80-69 on the road. In their home opener, CCC nearly hit the century mark with a strong 97-73 victory over Kansas Christian College. Their other win this year came the following game against Manhattan Christian College, 81-61. Following that win, the Tigers have lost two straight, the first to McPherson College 65-79, and the second to Manhattan Christian at their place, 78-74.

Leading the Tigers is head coach Tony Romero. A few years ago, Romero hit 200 wins with the program, now holding a 230-201 record at CCC. His roots run deep in McPherson, as Romero started four years for the Tigers from 2000-04.

In their brief season, the Tigers are led in scoring by Chris Whitten, averaging 20.0 points per game. A couple more are averaging double digits in the scoring column, Omari Maulana (14.2) and Jevarrick Butler (12.4). Butler is also averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, just behind Andre Shelby with a team-high 7.6 rebounds per contest. Additionally, Shelby leads the team with 12 steals, 12 assists, and 7 blocks.

MSSU football season ends with 47-41 double overtime win over Missouri Western

(From MSSU Athletics)

The Missouri Southern football team ended their 2023 regular season Saturday afternoon with a contest against #19 Missouri Western. 

Prior to kickoff, 17 Lion seniors were recognized for their contributions to the team. Down 34-26 with 32 seconds left in regulation, the Lions completed the comeback and upset the Griffons in double overtime, 47-41. That marks the team's first double overtime win since 2001.

After winning the toss, the Lions chose to defer to the second half, giving the Griffons the first possession. The Missouri Southern defense held strong, forcing Missouri Western to punt after three unsuccessful attempts at a first down. MWSU took a 7-0 lead with a touchdown on their second drive. Facing a third down on their own 17-yard line, the Griffons turned it over on an interception by Carmelo Hollingsworth, nearly taking it to the house. A few plays later, Luke Sampson found Nick Panella for a 3-yard touchdown to even the score at 7-7.

The visitors had a strong second quarter, extending their lead to 24-7 with 2:54 left before half. Southern used nearly all of that time to put together a scoring drive before the break, as Luke Sampson threw his second touchdown pass of the day, this time to David Bethune for 17 yards. That drive was highlighted by a 23-yard reception by Deontay Campbell. The score read 24-13 in favor of the Griffons at halftime.

Missouri Western scored midway through the third, then the Lions began a strong drive of their own. Ja'Veon Marlow kicked things off with 22 yards on the ground, followed by a pass interference call. Luke Sampson then hit Ezekiel Lang for 15 yards, and Jaedon Stoshak for a 16-yard touchdown, 31-20 Griffons.

A Griffon field goal extended that lead to 34-20 early in the fourth. The visitors began another offensive drive with 8:25 left on the clock, facing a third down and five. Ian McSwain read the quarterback's eyes, jumping the route for a 50-yard pick-six. With a stop on third down, the Lion defense forced the Griffons to punt, giving MSSU the ball on their 19-yard line with 32 seconds left. Luke Sampson connected with Ezekiel Lang for 12 yards to start the drive, then found Akeem Gilmore for 17 yards. Back-to-back completions to Jaedon Stoshak put the Lions on the 16-yard line. As the clock ticked down to three seconds, Luke Sampson found Deontay Campbell in the end zone for a touchdown. For the two-point conversion, Sampson hit Ezekiel Lang to tie the game at 34-34 and force overtime.

The overtime coin toss was won by Missouri Western and they elected to play defense first. On the first play of the extra period, Sampson connected with Campbell again, setting the Lions up with a first and goal on the 2-yard line. Shortly after, Akeem Gilmore pounded it in for a touchdown 41-34 Lions. Western was able to answer, forcing a second overtime.

With the first offensive possession of the second overtime period, Missouri Western was facing a third down from the 11-yard line, when Nick Kruse came down with an interception to give Southern possession. On the first play, Luke Sampson hit Jaedon Stoshak to set MSSU up on the 4-yard line. Anthodius Ashley ended the game with a touchdown run on the next play, 47-41 Lions.

Luke Sampson had another career day, breaking his career high he set last week with 374 passing yards. He also set his career high with four passing touchdowns, tied for fourth most in a single game in MSSU history. Senior Jaedon Stoshak was the leading receiver on the night, hauling in 7 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Deontay Campbell was a major threat as well, catching 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.







The defense was a team effort, led by Evrin Hawkins and Colton Bass each with 9 tackles. Ian McSwain had 8 tackles, and a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. Carmelo Hollingsworth and Nick Kruse each recorded an interception.

With the win, the Lions finish 5-6 (4-6 MIAA), the most wins in program history since 2013. Additionally, Luke Sampson tied the single-season passing touchdowns record with 25. He also put his name on a few other top-10 single-season categories: pass completions (9th, 174 comp.), passing yardage (5th, 2,514 yards), and passer rating (3rd, 155.9). Each with 6 receiving touchdowns, Jaedon Stoshak and Deontay Campbell tie for 10th in single-season receiving touchdowns. Drake Reese tied for fourth in kick scoring, ending the year with 59 points.

MSSU football falls to Emporia State 63-28

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Emporia, Kan. - The Lions were back on the road Saturday afternoon, taking on the Emporia State Hornets on their home turf. Although not currently ranked, the Hornets have been in the top 25 this season, and were picked third in both preseason MIAA polls. ESU went on to win Saturday's contest 63-28, dropping MSSU to 4-6 (3-6 MIAA).

After finding themselves down early, the Lions responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Luke Sampson to David Bethune. That play was set up by a 45-yard completion to Daion Gaston on a 3rd and 9 earlier in the drive.

On the opening drive of the second half, Anthodius Ashley made his way into the end zone to make the score 42-14. That drive featured back-to-back 37-yard passes to Jaedon Stoshak and Ezekiel Lang. Later in the third, Stoshak returned a kickoff 46 yards to set MSSU up for an eventual 27-yard touchdown pass from Sampson to David Bethune once again.

Sampson connected with Deontay Campbell for 35 yards early in the fourth, then hit another tight end in Dmitri Lloyd for the touchdown, 56-28 ESU.

Redshirt Sophomore quarterback Luke Sampson had a career high in passing yards (315) and completions (22), while tying his career high touchdown passes (3). His passes were spread to eight different receivers, with Daion Gaston leading the way with 77 yards on 4 receptions. David Bethune made the most of his receptions, scoring on both catches.

Colton Bass led the Southern defense, recording double digits with 10 tackles. A trio of Lions finished with eight tackles, Evrin Hawkins, Carmelo Hollingsworth, and Dillon Ramella.

The Lions will wrap up their 2023 schedule with a home contest next Saturday, November 11 as they play host to the Missouri Western Griffons for Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.