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Tag: Missouri Southern Lions

FOOTBALL: No. 10 Pitt State dominates Missouri Southern in Miners Bowl victory

Posted on by Lucas Davis

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The No. 10-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas remembered one aspect of last season’s 20-16 win over cross-state rival Missouri Southern in the Miners Bowl.

They were called out for not being the more physical football team on that day.

The Gorillas seemed to have taken that personally and vowed they would not have a repeat performance Saturday against Missouri Southern at historic Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pitt State did not repeat in being the less physical team, as matter of fact, and held Missouri Southern to 76 rushing yards on 31 carries and limited the Lions to three Nick Williams field goals during a dominant 38-9 win Saturday for the unbeaten Gorillas (5-0 overall and MIAA).

“We felt like we were called out last year and our guys were determined to play a very physical football game today,” Pitt State coach Brian Wright said. “I just think the coaches put together a good plan, and the guys went out and executed. Our defense was flying around the football, and I don’t think they give up very many big plays if any throughout the course of that game. Maybe one (big) pass, but guys were stopping the run and when you make somebody one-dimensional, it’s a long afternoon on offense.”

“We knew they were a big, physical team,” redshirt senior linebacker Morgan Selemaea said. “Last year, they called us out for not being as physical as they were, but we definitely went out and showed that. It was nice to just out physical them all game, all four quarters. Just really proud of our defense, our offense, and our special teams.”

The Gorillas played a physical football game, but they managed to maintain their composure and not commit the 15-yard personal foul penalties that hampered Missouri Southern throughout the contest. The Lions were flagged for eight penalties amounting to 78 yards, while Pitt State got flagged twice for a total of 14 yards.

“We definitely knew that if we got up, tensions were going to get high on their side because we were dominating them,” Selemaea said. “We knew that we had to keep our composure, stick together, and look out for each other.”

Pitt State never trailed Saturday, led 28-3 at halftime, and did not lead by less than double digits after the first quarter.

“We put all three phases together,” Wright said. “We took advantage of good special teams, we got a turnover on the defense and capitalized on it and capitalized on a long kickoff return. I just thought all our guys came out ready to play football today.”

“Coach Wright talks about it all the time: complementary football,” graduate student linebacker P.J. Sarwinski said. “That’s exactly what we did today. The defense stepped it up in the first half, second half, and we just played a complete game. Offense stepped up when they needed, and I felt like we dominated.”

MSSU running back and former Joplin RB Nathan Glades. Courtesy MSSU Athletics.

One memorable highlight for Pitt State occurred late in the first quarter when the Gorillas faced a third-and-goal at the Missouri Southern 1.

The Gorillas called on perhaps an unlikely suspect for a ball carrier in this situation — graduate student defensive lineman and former Carl Junction High School standout Zeke Wall, listed at 6-foot-1 and 276 pounds.

Wall busted in for a 1-yard TD run and the Gorillas took a 14-0 lead.

“We didn’t just draw it up,” Wright said. “We’ve been practicing that one, actually for a while, and just felt like this was the time. Defenses each week continue to overload the other side of that formation, so it was the right time to get that one in.”

“I know that he was living it up,” Selemaea said. “Always love to see a big guy score a touchdown, because offensive and defensive linemen, you’ve got to give credit to them because they don’t get much glory. To see 99 punch that thing in, it was great.”

Sophomore quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. passed for 201 yards and three scores on 12 of 19 accuracy, running back Caleb Lewis gained 84 yards on 23 carries, seven different receivers made catches and three different receivers found the end zone, Selemaea led the defense with 10 tackles and forced a fumble that would lead to a Pitt State score, and Kolbe Katsis’ 71-yard kickoff return set up another Gorillas touchdown.

MSSU DL Solomon Garcia, a Joplin High School product, wraps up the PSU ball carrier. Courtesy MSSU Athletics.

The Gorillas return home in Week 6 for a clash against their archrival Northwest Missouri, ranked No. 12 and 4-1 on the season.

“It’s the big one,” Sarwinski said. “We’re looking forward to it. That’s the one we circle every year. We’re excited for the challenge that they’re going to bring here to the Jungle, and I expect a lot of people to come out and support us. We’re going to be ready.”

Meanwhile, for the Lions, Williams, a dual kicker and punter, excelled kicking the ball Saturday with field goals of 52, 24, and 42 yards, as well as seven punts averaging out to 46 yards per boot and highlighted by a 72-yard punt.

Sophomore running back and former Joplin High standout Nathan Glades, who entered Saturday coming off three straight 100-yard rushing performances, finished with 60 yards on 21 carries.

Junior linebacker and former Carthage High stalwart Colton Winder led the way Saturday with 10 tackles.

The Lions, after playing consecutive road games against Kansas schools Fort Hays and Pitt State, return home in Week 6 for their homecoming contest against Lincoln (0-5 overall and outscored 237-50 already this season).

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Southern knocks off UCO 40-21

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Missouri Southern quarterback Dawson Herl threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Lions took out Central Oklahoma 40-21 tonight in front of 5,011 fans inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

Southern (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) put up 392 yards of offense (195 rushing, 197 passing) as the Lions held the ball for 32 minutes and limited Central Oklahoma (1-2, 1-2 MIAA) to just 2-for-14 on third down attempts.

Herl went 15-of-24 for 189 yards and three passing touchdowns, while he rushed for 50 yards and a pair of scores. He was one off the school record for touchdowns responsible for in a game (six, Jacob Park 2019 vs. Northeastern State).

Nathan Glades had 105 yards on the ground, while Ezekiel Lang caught three passes, two of which went for touchdowns. Chris Boudreaux had five catches for 56 yards, while Jaedon Stoshak had three catches for 62 yards and a score.

Nick Williams had two field goals from 18 and 40 on the evening, and averaged 37.3 yards in punts, including a long of 43 and three inside the 20.

Defensively, Richard Jordan Jr. and Coleman Booker had nine tackles each with Booker posting a half a sack and two tackles for a loss. Jordan had 2.5 tackles for a loss of five yards, a forced fumble and two pass breakups. Jamie Tago had a sack, while Romel Readus added a half a sack. Ian McSwain had an interception.

Southern had four forced fumbles on defense and nine quarterback hurries on the night. The defense had an interception and a fumble recovery, while the offense didn’t have a single turnover.

Southern started the scoring in the first as Herl hit Lang for the first of two touchdown passes with 12:01 left on the clock. After a touchdown from the Bronchos with nine minutes left, Williams answered with an 18-yard field goal, giving the Lions a 10-7 lead after one.

Lang and Herl hooked up again with just 21 seconds left in the half to make the score 17-7 at the break.

UCO got a touchdown to get within six (20-14) as the third quarter wound down, but the fourth quarter was all Lions. Southern got a five-yard rushing touchdown from Herl, a 42-yard passing touchdown from Herl to Stoshak and another 16-yard score on the ground from Herl in the period. The Bronchos had one touchdown in the fourth but it wasn’t enough.

The Lions will be back at it next week as Southern travels to Fort Hays State. Kickoff from Lewis Field Stadium is set for 7 pm.

CROSS COUNTRY: Southern men take team title—Kimutai, Riddle finish first and second

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Led by performances from Gidieon Kimutai and Ryan Riddle, the eighth-ranked Missouri Southern men’s cross country team placed five runners in the top 23 spots and the Lions took home the team title today at the 33rd running of the Southern Stampede held at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.

Kimutai and Riddle took first and second place individually as Kimutai won his second career Stampede (2019) with a time of 23:37.21. Riddle, last year’s champion, crossed the 8k finish line in a time of 23:53.69.

JP Rutledge placed eighth with a time of 24:38.72, while Riley Simpson was 19th at 25:16.90. Clayton Whitehead was 23rd in a time of 25:26.07. Jaden Deaton finished 38th in a time of 25:42.44, while Zachary Finley was 45th (25:52.72) and Kelton Sorrell placed 47th in a time of 25:56.46.

Geordan Patrylak (65th – 26:13.02), Gabe McClain (73rd – 26:22.93), Joseph Loth (118th – 27:04.92), Landon Fatino (123rd – 27:09.35), Evan Matlock (142nd – 27:28.02), Nicholas Horton (149th – 27:33.64), Santiago Granados (169th – 28:00.49) and Zaben Barnes (28:02.47) round out the Lions’ scores.

Southern took home the team title with 48 team points. Washburn was second with 88 points, followed by East Central, Central Missouri, St. Mary (Kan.), Missouri Western, Pittsburg State, New Mexico Highlands, Fort Hays State and Emporia State to round out the top-ten team scores.

The Lions will be back in action on September 30 as Southern will compete in the Chile Pepper Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Glades leads Lions to first win of the season

Posted on by Lucas Davis

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Missouri Southern football team got three rushing touchdowns from Nathan Glades and the Lions scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to seal a 30-13 win on the road at Northeastern State inside Doc Wadley Stadium.

Glades, a Joplin High School product, became the first Lion (1-1, 1-1 MIAA) since Jacob Park to rush for three scores in a game. Ironically, Park did it against these RiverHawks in 2019. Glades finished with 20 carries for 133 yards and three scores, including a long of 56 yards.

Anthodius Ashley rushed 51 yards on 15 carries and a score of his own, while Dawson Herl was 11-for-18 for 148 yards in the air. Akeem Gillmore was 2-for-2 in passing for 45 yards, while Ezekiel Lang had four catches for 84 yards. Chris Boudreaux caught three passes for 68 yards.

Nick Williams continued to be consistent and steady as the senior had four punts for 166 yards, averaging 41.5 yards, including a long of 56 and three inside the 20. Williams hit his only field goal attempt of the evening, a 36-yard try late in the fourth.

Defensively, the Lions were led by Richard Jordan Jr. with 11 tackles. Solomona Fetuao had six tackles and two sacks, while Colton Bass and Avery Bass picked up interceptions. Romel Readus and Kalepo Fiaseu had a sack each.

NSU (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) was led by Jacob Frazier as he went 19-for-28 for 194 yards and a score, but the Lions sacked him four times and picked off a pair of passes.

Southern struck first when Glades went in from one-yard out to put the Lions up 6-0 with seven minutes left in the first quarter. The play was set up by a beautiful halfback pass from Gillmore to Lang that netted 35 yards and put the Lions inside the five-yard line. Southern tried for the two-point conversion but was not successful.

The RiverHawks picked up a field goal from Tyler Crawford, but Glades struck again, this time for 56-yards to put the Lions up 13-3. Crawford hit another field goal, this time from 50-yards out as time was expiring and the halftime score stood Lions 13-6.

Coming out of the halftime break, NSU was the first to score as the RiverHawks drove right down the field and Frazier hit Devin Blayney for 14-yards to tie the score at 13 with 11 minutes left in the third.

The fourth quarter was all Lions. Southern picked up a one-yard touchdown run from Glades, his third of the game, to end a long drive and put the Lions up 20-13. With five minutes left on the clock, Ashley picked up a nine-yard score to make the tally 27-20 Lions.

Williams added a late field goal to make the final tally 30-13. A late interception from Colton Bass sealed the win and led to victory formation.

The Lions outgained NSU 415 to 282, including 191 to 71 on the ground. Southern held the ball for nearly 34 minutes compared to 26 for the RiverHawks. The Lions never trailed in the game.

The Green and Gold will be back at it next weekend as Southern plays host to Central Oklahoma. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 5 pm on Saturday evening.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: MSSU falls to Nebraska-Kearney in season opener

Posted on by Lucas Davis

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Missouri Southern football team trailed just 10-7 heading to the fourth quarter but a pick six from the 14th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney with ten minutes to go proved to be the turning point as Southern fell 24-7 to the Lopers inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

The Lions (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) got a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Dawson Herl, his first of his career, while Nathan Glades rushed for 47 yards. Herl was 12-of-27 passing for 105 yards with a long of 30. Jaedon Stoshak had four catches, while Chris Boudreaux had two catches for 54 yards.

Nick Williams punted the ball seven times for an average of 47.6 yards and a long of 61 yards including three inside the 20.

Defensively, Richard Jordan Jr. had 16 tackles, including nine solo, and two for a loss of six yards. Jordan moves up to No. 7 on the all-time tackle list and has 305 in his career passing Jared Brawner. Colton Winder had eight tackles, while Coleman Booker had seven, including two for a loss of seven yards and a sack. Dylan Bolden had a key interception that led to a Lions’ touchdown.

The Southern defense held Harlon Hill runner up TJ Davis to just 44 yards passing and 129 on the ground and zero touchdowns. The 44 yards passing is 134 yards lower than what he averaged a season ago.

The Lopers got on the board first with a five-yard rushing score from Montrez Jackson with 7:18 left in the first quarter.

As the second quarter was winding down, Bolden picked off a pass in the UNK zone setting up a Lions’ score. After getting to the four-yard line, Herl lined up and took the ball right up the middle for the four-yard score.

From that point, neither team scored until 9:55 left in the fourth quarter when Darius Swanson picked off a pass and returned it to the endzone for a touchdown. The Lopers added a late score.

The Lions will be back in action next week when Southern travels to Northeastern State. Kickoff from Tahlequah is set for 6 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Southern falls in opener to UNK

Posted on by Lucas Davis

KEARNY, Neb. — The Missouri Southern football team had waited 672 days and a few hours more to play its first MIAA football game in nearly two years, but the Lions came out on the wrong side of a 38-0 loss at Nebraska-Kearney in the 2021 season opener.

Both teams had to wait through a 2:21 lightning and rain delay to start the game as kickoff occurred at 9:21 pm.

“We have to be better,” said Southern head coach Atiba Bradley. “That’s an MIAA team. We’re going to see that type of team 10 more times this season. We’re going to go back, we’re going to learn a lot, this team is going to learn from it and next week we’ll be better.”

Neither team scored in the first quarter, but both teams had their chances. Southern (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) took the opening kickoff and drove to the UNK (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) 41-yard line and the drive ended in a good punt by Dawson Herl to the UNK 4-yard line.

The Lopers then took the ball and drove nearly the length of the field before the Southern defense came up strong and a tackle by Coleman Booker and Malachi Broadnax stopped the UNK drive and gave the Lions the ball at their own 3-yard line.

Southern got a pass from Herl to Chris Boudreaux for 9 yards and a first down, while Nathan Glades added another first-down on a 12-yard rush in that drive. The quarter ended in a scoreless tie.

The Lopers added a pair of scores in the second quarter to lead 14-0 at halftime and a field goal made the score 17-0 after three. UNK added 21 points in the fourth quarter to provide the final tally.

Glades had 18 carries for 63 yards, while Herl went 8-for-16 for 60 yards through the air. Boudreaux had two catches for 14 yards, while Jaedon Stoshak had one catch for 17 yards (a diving one-handed grab in the first quarter).

Defensively, Booker led the way with 12 tackles and one tackle for a loss. Richard Jordan Jr. had 11 tackles, seven solo, including a tackle for a loss, while Colton Winder had ten stops.

Nick Williams had seven punts on the night, including a long of 49 for a total of 285 yards and 40.7 per punt. Five punts resulted in a fair catch, while two were inside the 20-yard line.

The Lions will be back in action next Saturday, as Southern plays host to Northeastern State. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: Brehm, Mader finish with double-doubles in Southern’s loss to UCO

Posted on by Lucas Davis

EDMOND, Okla. — The Missouri Southern volleyball team got a double-double from both Janelle Brehm and Sophie Mader, but the Lions fell three sets to none tonight at Central Oklahoma.

Individual set scores were 13-25, 21-25 and 15-25.

Brehm posted a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs, while Mader dished out 25 assists and had 10 digs for her double-double. Abbie Casper had 13 digs, while Kylah Carter had seven kills.

UCO was led by setter Amanda Desch who had 10 kills, 32 assists and 20 digs.

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow with a 2 pm first-serve at Newman.

COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD: Lions have strong showing on second day of national championships

Posted on by Lucas Davis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Missouri Southern track and field program picked up a pair of All-American performances and sent multiple athletes onto the finals in running events as the Lions competed in day two of the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Ryan Riddle started off the day by recording the fastest qualifying time in the mile, clocking in at 4:05.64. Riddle will race in the finals of the event tomorrow.

Riddle, Gidieon Kimutai, Gabe McCain and Brieon Randle nearly picked up a National Championship in the distance medley relay as there was just two tenths of a second separating first and third place in the event. The Lions finished third with a new school record of 9:46.89 as each runner earned All-American honors.

The Lions sent all three runners in the 60m hurdles onto the finals as Claire Luallen, Cornesia Calhoun-Whtie and Precious Olatunji each qualified for tomorrow’s finals. Calhoun-White put forward the fastest time of the trio, crossing the line in a time of 8.66.

Luallen picked up her second All-American honor of the meet and third of her career when she finished seventh in the long jump. Bringing added difficulty to the event, Luallen had to pause her jumping to qualify for the finals in the hurdles, missing a pair of jumps in the process. In her final jump of the series, Luallen hit a mark of 5.81m (19-00.75) to secure the All-American finish.

In the final event of the night for the Lions, Chardae Overstreet qualified for the finals of the 400m and will race tomorrow afternoon in the event’s finals.

Through seven of 17 events, the Southern men are in eighth place with ten points, while the women sit in 22nd place with four points.

It will be a busy day for the Lions tomorrow. Dean Howard will start things off with the men’s pole vault at 12:30 pm, while Adrain Broadus competes in the men’s triple jump at 1 pm. Riddle will race in the finals of the men’s mile at 2 pm, while Overstreet races in the finals of the 400m at 6:20 pm. The trio of Luallen, Calhoun-White and Olatunji race in the finals of the 60m hurdles at 6:30 pm.

Southern football to play one spring game

Posted on by Lucas Davis

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Missouri Southern football team has announced it will play one game this spring as the Lions will travel to Bethany, Oklahoma, to take on Southern Nazarene on March 18.

The Lions and the Crimson Storm will kickoff at 3 p.m. from the SNU Football Stadium in Bethany. It will be the first game in the tenure of new head football coach Atiba Bradley.

The game will be brought to you live on the Missouri Southern Radio Network and Fox Sports Joplin. Mike McClure and Scott Boudreaux will bring you the action live from the stadium. Live video and live stats will be available courtesy of SNU and links can be found in the story links above, as well as on the schedule on the MSSU Football page.

The Lions are in the midst of spring ball and will play one final spring scrimmage on April 24 at 1 from Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Southern earns series-opening win against Washburn

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The fifth-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team scored three runs over the sixth and seventh innings and held on to defeat Washburn 3-1 on Friday in the series opener in Topeka, Kansas.

The Lions (10-0, 4-0 MIAA) got a strong start from Zach Parish as he went six innings, striking out five, walking none, and scattering three hits, while holding the Ichabods scoreless. Cole Woods threw two and two thirds, striking out four, while Chase Beiter got the final out for his second save of the season. Parish moved to 3-0.

Henry Kusiak had an RBI triple and a run scored, while Jordan Fitzpatrick had a hit and an RBI, as well. Troy Gagan and Matt Miller had a hit and run each, while Ryan Hunter had an RBI.

Washburn (2-6, 2-2 MIAA) starter Rane Pfeifer started and held the Lions hitless through the point he exited the game in the sixth, but a bases-loaded walk gave the Lions a lead in the inning.

Southern scored that first run in the sixth when Hunter walked with the bases-loaded, scoring Gagan to put the Lions up 1-0. Kusiak tripled down the right field line to score Miller in the seventh and then Kusiak scored on an RBI single from Fitzpatrick to go up 3-0.

Washburn got a late run in the ninth, but Beiter closed out the game for the win.

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow in a double-header beginning at 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOOPS: Southern women earn postseason bid with win over UCO

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Missouri Southern women’s basketball team used a strong fourth quarter and secured a berth in the 2021 MIAA Basketball Tournament as the Lions defeated Central Oklahoma 67-57 tonight inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

The Lions (9-13) will be the No. 8 seed and will travel to Fort Hays State to take on the Tigers in an opening round game on Wednesday night at 6 pm inside Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. 

Southern was led offensively by Layne Skiles with 13 points, while Madi Stokes and Amaya Johns scored ten each. Stokes added 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Carley Turnbull added nine points of her own. 

The Bronchos (14-8) were led by 12 points from Jaci Littell. 

The Lions opened up a 7-3 lead early on in the first quarter but UCO tied it at seven with just under seven minutes to go. A three from Kaitlin Hunnicutt with three minutes left put the Lions up 14-9, and a pair of freebies from Biance Stocks with 2:22 on the clock gave the Lions an 18-9 lead. UCO crept back, however, but the Lions led 18-17 after one. 

Skiles opened up the second quarter with a three and a jumper from Johns with 7:49 left made the score 23-17, Lions. A free throw from Stocks pushed the Southern lead to ten (30-20) with 2:48 to go, but the Bronchos again crept back and the Lions led 33-29 at the break. 

The two teams were back-and-forth throughout the third quarter but a layup from Stokes with 19 seconds left put the Lions up four going into the fourth. In the fourth, the Lions out scored the Bronchos 20-14 with the majority of the deficit coming late as the Lions made their free throws down the stretch. 

The Lions shot 40 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line. Rebounds were even at 37 with the Lions holding a 10-8 advantage on the offensive boards. 

Southern will be back in action this Wednesday as the Lions open up the MIAA Tournament with a trip to Hays, Kan. Tip off against the Tigers is set for 6 pm. 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Southern falls to UCO in OT thriller

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Missouri Southern men’s basketball team dropped an overtime thriller today, falling 105-101 in overtime to visiting Central Oklahoma on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

The Lions (13-9) finish in a tie for third with Missouri Western, but lose the tie breaker and will be the 4th seed in the MIAA Tournament. Southern will play host to these very same Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Wednesday at 6 pm in an opening round game. 

Five Lions scored in double-figures, led by 25 points from Stan Scott. Scott added five assists and six rebounds, while Lawson Jenkins had six threes for 20 points of his own. Cam Martin scored 19 points and went over 2,000 career points, currently sitting with 2,009 at MSSU. He added nine rebounds and a team-high six assists. 

Christian Bundy had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while RJ Smith scored 12 points of his own, adding in nine boards. 

The Lions jumped out to a 16-5 lead after a jumper from Yahizhan Selcuk with 15:07 left in the first half. The lead was 11 again after a jumper from Scott with 11 minutes to go and the Lions led by 10 after two free throws from Martin with eight to go. UCO got within three with 3:23 left on the clock, but the Lions pushed the lead back up to eight (41-33) with 37 seconds to go and led by seven at the break. 

Southern led by 12 (60-48) with 14 minutes to go, and by ten with 12 minutes left, but UCO went on a 14-4 run and tied the game at 67 with nine minutes to go. Southern trailed briefly, but went back ahead and led by four (82-78) with three minutes to go. UCO tied and went ahead as the two teams traded baskets down the stretch. The Lions had a chance at the buzzer, but couldn’t get the shot to go. 

In the overtime period, the Lions led 96-93 with three minutes left, but UCO went on a 6-0 run to lead 99-96 with a minute to go. A three from Smith tied it, but the Bronchos hit a 3 the next trip down and didn’t look back. 

The Lions shot 47 percent from the field and hit 75 percent of their free throws. 

The two teams will be right back at it this Wednesday night as the Lions play host to the Bronchos in a first-round game of the 2021 MIAA Tournament. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 6 pm. 

 

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Southern sweeps doubleheader against Emporia State

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The 18th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team got a pair of wins today against Emporia State as the Lions swept a double-header from the Hornets at Warren Turner Field. 

Southern (8-0, 2-0 MIAA) got a win in game one from Zach Parish and another win in the finale from Zac Shoemaker. Cole Woods picked up the save in Game 1, while Chase Beiter got the save in game two. 

In the opener, the Lions scored single runs in each of the second, fourth and fifth innings. Troy Gagan started it, picking up a run on a wild pitch in the second, and Gagan singled home Tommy Stevenson in the fourth to make it 2-0. Jordan Fitzpatrick then doubled home Henry Kusiak in the fifth for the final tally. 

Parish went eight and a third innings, striking out 13 and walking just one, while scattering five hits. Woods finished up the shutout with a pair of strikeouts to the only two batters he faced. 

Gagan went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Kusiak, Fitzpatrick, Stevenson and Clay Milas had a hit each. 

Game 2 saw Emporia State (2-4, 0-2 MIAA) score first with a run in the opening frame. Gagan, however, answered with a home run in the second to tie it up. The Hornets went up 2-1 in the third, but the Lions got an RBI single from Milas to score Gagan in the fourth to tie it again. After ESU went ahead in the fifth, 3-2, the Lions picked up two runs in the sixth to put the game away. Gagan scored on a balk and Milas scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Miller

Shoemaker started and went seven and a third, striking out six to pick up the win. Beiter threw the final inning and two thirds, striking out three to pick up the save. 

Gagan had three runs in the game, while Kusiak and Milas had a pair of hits each. 

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow with the finale being played at 1 pm.

MEN’S HOOPS: Big day from perimeter leads MSSU past PSU

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern men’s basketball team made 16 3-pointers en route to a 93-74 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday on Robert Corn Court inside of the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (12-8) was led by Cam Martin, who scored 25 points and added 10rebounds, going 6-of-11 from long range. Winston Dessesow scored 21 points and had seven assists, while Lawson Jenkins had 16 points on five made 3s. Christian Bundy had nine points, while Yagizhan Selcuk had eight points and nine boards.

Pittsburg State (10-10) was led offensively with 14 points from RJ Lawrence off the bench. Martin Vogts chipped in with 13 points.

The Lions opened the game on a 7-1 run capped by a layup from RJ Smith four minutes in. A jumper from Dessesow at the 14-minute mark made the score 12-4, Lions, but a 3 from Martin with 13:16 on the clock started the Southern barrage from long range. Martin made another 3 with 12:36 left and Jenkins followed up with one of his own with 11 minutes to go to make the score 22-11.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Martin and Dessesow with nine minutes to go put the Lions up 30-15, and a dunk from Smith with 6:49 on the clock put the Lions up 36-19. Jenkins hit a pair of 3s sandwiched between a jumper from Martin with five to go and the Lions went up 20, while a trey from Dessesow the next trip down pushed the lead to 23. Southern led 55-34 at the break.

Southern opened the second half hitting three long-range jumpers and led 64-36 1:10 into action. A dunk from Scott with 16:45 left made the score 71-40, Lions and a layup from Selcuk with 13:53 left put the Lions up 73-46.

A 3-pointer from Dessesow with 11 minutes left made the score 80-57, while a dunk from Bundy off an assist from Jenkins put the Lions up 86-68 with eight to go. A 3-ball from Dessesow with 5:40 to go pushed the lead to 23 as the Lions cruised to the win.

Southern shot 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from the 3-point line. The Lions won the rebound battle 46-34 and had a 36-20 advantage in the paint.

Southern will be back in action this Thursday when the Lions play host to Washburn. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOOPS: Lions have four finish in double figures in loss to Gorillas

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Missouri Southern women’s basketball team had four score in double figures, but the Lions couldn’t overcome a first-half deficit and fell at home to Pittsburg State 78-60 on Saturday.

Southern (7-13) was led in scoring by 14 points from Amaya Johns, who added seven rebounds off the bench. Carley Turnbull scored 13, while Hailey Grant scored a career-high 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field. Madi Stokes scored 10 and pulled down nine boards with two blocks. The two blocks gives her 43 on the season and puts her in second place all-time on the MSSU single-season block list.

Pittsburg State (13-7) had three in double-figures. Kaylee DaMitz led the way with 17 points, while Sydnee Crain added 16 and Tristan Gegg finished with 15. DaMitz added eight rebounds and three assists.

The Gorillas jumped out to a 10-2 lead at the 6:19 mark of the first quarter, but a 3-pointer from Turnbull and a layup from Layne Skiles cut the deficit to 10-7 with 5:35 to go. A pair of free throws from Stokes cut the lead to two with three minutes to go. The Gorillas led 18-16 the next trip down before closing the quarter on a 10-0 run to lead 28-16..

The Pittsburg State run reached 20-2, as the Gorillas led 38-18 halfway through the second quarter. 

PSU pushed its lead to 60-30 midway through the third, but a 10-3 run from the Lions made the score 60-43 and forced a Gorillas’ timeout. A free throw from Pittsburg State as time expired made the score 66-42 after three.

A layup from Megan Jackson off an assist from Turnbull got the Lions within 17 with 5:41 to go on the clock, and a pair of free throws from Johns with two minutes to go brought Southern within 18 of the lead but that would be as close as they would get.

The Lions shot 84 percent from the free-throw line and out rebounded the Gorillas 42-38 in the contest. Points in the paint were even at 28, while the Southern bench out-scored the Gorillas’ 29-19.

Southern will be back in action this Thursday when the Lions play host to Washburn. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 5:30 p.m.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Joplin sees six student-athletes sign letters of intent

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Like the rest of the country, Wednesday was a special day at Joplin High School, as six football players signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level on National Signing Day.

Nathan Glades, Scott Lowe and Trayshawn Thomas all committed to Missouri Southern, while Dominick Simmons signed with Evangel University. Keaton Renfro inked his name to Missouri S&T, with Davis Ramsey signing on to play for William Penn.

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” Lowe said. “This has always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid—to play college football. I had a grandfather who coached high school football, and my father played college football. Ever since I was little, all I have been around is football. I just want to make my family proud.”

Glades will be heading to Southern as a running back and kick returner, with Lowe as a linebacker and Thomas as a wide receiver.

“I want to go out there and be a part of a program where I am not just a statistic,” Glades said. “I want to go change a program around, which I helped do here at Joplin. … I view this as a stepping stone for me. College (football) is not where I want to stop (playing). That’s for sure.”

Of course, with three players who were instrumental in turning Joplin’s football program around, they look forward to helping lay a positive foundation at Missouri Southern, which will have a new head coach to start next season.

“It’s awesome and amazing,” Lowe said of his chance to continue playing with some of his teammates at Missouri Southern. “It was always the challenge to lay the foundation at Joplin. Now, going to Southern, it’s something that we look forward to. We want to be in situations where we have our backs against the wall with everyone against us. We look forward to those situations because there is only one way to go, and that’s up.”

Simmons will be attending Evangel as a cornerback, and already has a feeling of what to expect at the next level. He has been in contact with former Joplin quarterback Blake Tash, who committed to Evangel last year on National Signing Day.

“I talked to Blake when they offered me,” Simmons said. “He said they were a great program. … We’ve been talking all offseason about it. He really helped me with my decision. … This is a great feeling. I just give thanks to God every day for helping me along the way.”

Like many players, Wednesday was a dream come true for Renfro, who will be playing as a wide receiver for the Miners’ program.

“It means a lot to me because I know this is a special opportunity that everyone doesn’t get,” Renfro said. “It is a blessing. … This is the first huge decision I am making in my life. … With this decision, I am taking on the responsibility of performing in the classroom and on the field in one of the most-important times of my life—when I am growing into an adult.”

For Ramsey, an offensive tackle, it was a simple decision to sign with William Penn. They made him feel like he belonged instantly.

“I took a visit up there a couple of weeks ago,” Ramsey said. “When I was there, it really just felt like home. I clicked with the environment. … This is everything. I know not everyone gets the opportunity that I have. Those opportunities come and go, I am just glad to have mine.”

While the opportunity to play football at the collegiate level is an honor, every Eagles athlete who signed on Wednesday praised their time at Joplin and how it helped elevate their play for the chance to continue playing football.

“It means a lot,” Thomas said. “I am going to miss it. It is real emotional. This was my last year playing for Joplin, and I have pretty much been playing for them my whole life—from flag football to high school. When you think about it, it just flew by. It’s sad, but I’m happy to have the memories.”

MEN’S HOOPS: Pittsburg State wins physical battle over rival Missouri Southern

Posted on by Lucas Davis

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State men’s basketball took a 20-17 advantage near the nine-minute mark of the first half and never relinquished it as the Gorillas earned a physical 83-67 win over Missouri Southern in a game that saw 52 total fouls called on Saturday at John Lance Arena.

“This is a game that means a lot to a lot of people,” Pittsburg State’s Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. said. “It’s our rival. They are 35 minutes down the road from us. It’s a game that we definitely want to win, and we want to win not just for ourselves, but for our community.”

Pittsburg State (5-4, 5-4 MIAA) shot 53.6 percent from the field (15-28) and 50 percent from the perimeter (4-8) on the way to a 40-32 cushion by the intermission. The Gorillas finished the game shooting 51.9 from the floor in the win and were 8-of-18 from the perimeter.

“We are a very unselfish group,” PSU’s Martin Vogts said. “We just spread the ball to everyone. Our best (attribute) is we find whoever has the hot hand. That is why we shoot so well, I think.”

Equally as important, the Gorillas’ effort on defense limited the Lions (4-4, 4-4) to a 40.7 percent shooting clip from the field (11-27) in both halves, with MSSU shooting 33 percent from deep (3-9) through the first 20 minutes before shooting 1-for-11 from the perimeter in the second half.

“I thought our defense was the key,” Pittsburg State coach Kim Anderson said. “They only scored 67 points, and our defense hasn’t been that good this year to hold a team down to that number. I was really proud of the way we guarded.”

Southern, which was without Winston Dessesow and Christian Bundy, held a 17-13 lead with 11:54 following a Cam Martin 3-pointer. Pittsburg State scored the next seven points behind a mid-range jumper from Zach Burch and a 3-pointer from Quentin Hardrict Jr., who finished with 10 points and a team-high five assists, to give the Gorillas a 20-17 advantage.

Pittsburg State pushed the lead as much as nine, 33-24, in the first half when Cameron Huefner scored inside at the 4:27 mark. PSU ultimately took an eight-point cushion into the half and quickly turned the lead into double digits less than a minute into the second half on a four-point play by Martin Vogts.

The Gorillas extended the lead to a game-high 16 points on a 3-pointer from RJ Forney Jr. with 13:45 to play to make the score 54-38. 

Back-to-back scores in the paint by Martin with eight minutes left trimmed the Gorillas’ lead to 10, with the Lions cutting the deficit to single digits, 65-57, on a pair of makes from the charity stripe moments later.

“Missed free throws, and I thought there were some opportunities where we had wide-open looks and weren’t able to convert, and we were turning the basketball over,” Southern coach Jeff Boschee said about his team’s inability to make a bigger run at the lead. “We switched to the zone and weren’t getting out or understanding our principles on where we are supposed to be when the ball goes to certain spots on the floor.”

That would be as close as Southern would get, with Vogts knocking down a 3-pointer with less than seven minutes left to push the lead back to 11. Pittsburg State eventually pushed the lead back to 16 on two free throws from Vogts with 3:27 left in regulation, ending any bid for a Lions’ rally.

“I thought it was big,” Anderson said of his team responding when Southern cut the lead to eight. “I thought we were struggling. We were trying to find combinations. … I don’t know how long we went without a bucket or how many possessions we went without a bucket, but it was a few. They took advantage of it. Fortunately, we got a shot down and were able to continue to hold them.”

STAT LEADERS

Vogts led Pittsburg State with 26 points, 20 coming in the second half, on 8-of-14 shooting from the field with five makes coming from beyond the arc. Arthur-Williams Jr., who scored 15 points in the first half, finished with 22 points. Both players closed with a team-high eight rebounds and combined for seven assists and three steals.

“I thought Bobby came out and played really well,” Anderson said. “We did some things to get him some shots and he made them. Martin was very consistent throughout the game. He made 3-point shots and handled the ball pretty well.”

Martin led Southern with 33 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 12-of-21 scoring from the free-throw line. It was his third consecutive game with 30 or more points scored, and it moved him into sixth place (1,672 points) on the MSSU all-time scoring list, surpassing Skyler Bowlin and Marquis Addison. He added a game-high 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double. 

Keryn Collins, making his first start of the season, scored a career-high 14 points for the Lions.

UP NEXT

Pittsburg State travels to Emporia State for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Jan. 14.

Missouri Southern travels to Washburn for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Jan. 14.

WOMEN’S HOOPS: Pittsburg State rallies in the second half to beat Missouri Southern

Posted on by Lucas Davis

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State trailed by as many as eight twice in the first half and 12 in the second half before rallying back for a 70-67 win over Missouri Southern on Saturday at John Lance Arena. 

The Gorillas have won five straight games and improve to 6-3, 6-3 MIAA. The loss snaps the Lions’ four-game winning streak, dropping Southern to 4-4, 4-4 MIAA.

“I was just really proud of our girls’ resiliency,” Pittsburg State coach Amanda Davied said. “There’s been games in the past where we’ve caved a little bit. Winning gives you confidence, so I think right now we are a confident team. It showed in the second half that we have been in those situations before, and we toughed it out.”

STAT LEADERS

Kaylee DaMitz led PSU with 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting to go along with a team-high six assists and four rebounds. Tristan Gegg finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Carthage product Maya Williams finished with nine points and seven rebounds, while Julia Johnson scored eight and had six rebounds with two steals. 

Southern was led in scoring by Carley Turnbull’s 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting. She finished with seven rebounds. Kaitlin Hunnicut came off the bench to score 15 points to go along with four rebounds, a block and a steal. Zoe Campbell scored eight and led the Lions with eight rebounds.

GAME SCRIPT

Southern jumped out early on Pittsburg State, building an eight-point lead, 20-12, through six minutes of action. The Lions’ strong work on the glass was a big proponent to taking the momentum early, outrebounding the Gorillas 12-8 in the first quarter, which led to a 7-2 MSSU advantage in second-chance scoring.

The Gorillas, who trailed by five after the first, found themselves down eight again early in the second period. Pittsburg State battled back and whittled the lead down to one, 27-26, on a DaMitz 3-pointer at the six-minute mark.

Southern closed the first half in a big way, using an 11-2 run to go into the intermission with a 38-28 lead. Turnbull knocked down a 3-ball to kick off the run before Biance Stocks and PSU’s Johnson traded buckets , with Hunnicutt draining her third 3-pointer of the first half to make the score 35-28 with 3:01 left. A Hailey Grant score on the drive and a free throw from Anna Hall wrapped the run and the first-half scoring.

“The game of basketball is about runs,” MSSU coach Ronnie Ressel said of his team’s ability to stave off PSU’s early comeback bids. “It’s just a matter of how big of a run it is going to be and if you can subside it and get back under control and into your favor. Really through the first three quarters, for the most part, I thought we did a really good job of doing that.”

Perimeter shooting was an advantage for the Lions in the first half, as MSSU was 5-of-10 shooting from deep in the first two quarters. PSU was limited to 1-for-7 shooting from the perimeter in the first half.

“It was good for us to be able to make those shots,” Ressel said. “It was good to see our kids step up. We had some good looks and we made them. In the first half, we did a really good job of executing our offense.”

Southern pushed the lead to 12 early in the first quarter before an 11-0 run by Pittsburg State trimmed the margin to 40-39 with 2:51 to play. The Lions briefly pushed the lead back to nine before the Gorillas cut the lead to one possession on the back of back-to-back 3-pointers by Jayme Jackson to end the quarter.

“When Jayme hit those two 3s, I think that was really the turning point,” DaMitz said. “It really just got us going. … From there, we were just rolling. Everybody was rolling.”

“That definitely was the turning point of the game,” Gegg added. “Jayme coming in (and making those shots) just was insane. I almost lost my voice screaming so loudly.”

The Gorilla women carried that momentum into the final quarter of play when Julia Johnson tied the game with an inside score 30 seconds into the fourth. After a Southern turnover, Gegg drilled a 3-ball from the right wing to give Pittsburg State its first lead of the game, 55-52, with 9:05 left in regulation. Williams made it 14 unanswered points for PSU spanning back to the third quarter with a 3-pointer from the corner at 7:25 to push the lead to 58-52.

“Momentum was huge,” Davied said. “I felt like at the end of the third, just being in that position really helped us continue to have some confidence and feel like we’re going to push through. … We closed that gap, and we closed it quickly. That is where our energy changed. … I thought our girls really had some answers and solutions to their situations.”

“We got on each other’s energy bus, and that is what you have to do every game,” Gegg added.

From there, Pittsburg State never surrendered the lead en route to victory.

UP NEXT

Pittsburg State travels to Emporia State for a 5:30 p.m. tip on Jan. 14.

Missouri Southern travels to Washburn for a 5:30 p.m. tip on Jan. 14.

COLLEGE HOOPS: Stokes, Johns lead MSSU women to win; Lincoln men hand Southern first loss

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Stokes, Johns lead MSSU women past Lincoln

LINCOLN, Mo. — Madi Stokes and Amaya Johns each scored in double figures to lead Missouri Southern past Lincoln 81-65 on Saturday.

Stokes tied UCM’s Niyah Jackson with a game-high 15 point on 6-of-10 shooting, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Johns finished close behind with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds and an assist in the win.

Southern (1-3, 1-3 MIAA) jumped out to a quick lead, shooting 43 percent in the first quarter (6-14) and converting seven free throws to build a 20-10 lead. The Lions continued to add on in the second quarter for a 43-26 advantage by the intermission before pushing the lead to 20 by the start of the fourth.

Biance Stocks added nine points and six rebounds, while Zoe Campbell added eight points. Kaitlin Hunnicutt and Anna Hall each had seven points. Hunnicutt finished with four rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Hall had three rebounds.

Southern limited Lincoln (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) to 35 percent shooting for the game and 26 percent from the floor in the first half. The Lions outscored the Blue Tigers 40-28 in points in the paint, and MSSU’s bench outscored Lincoln’s 50-18.

The Blue Tigers finished with three players in double figures. Niyah Jackson led the team with 15 points and five assists. Deija Jackson added 12 points, while Aliyah Bello scored 10 points , had four rebounds and three steals.

Southern hosts Northeastern State on Dec. 3.

 

MSSU men fall behind early in first loss

LINCOLN, Mo. — Lincoln built a 14-point lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it on the way to a 76-68 win over No. 21 Missouri Southern on Saturday.

The Blue Tigers (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) led by as many as 15 points in the second half before the Lions (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) fought back to trim the lead to five, 69-64, with 2:16 left in regulation. That was as close to the lead Southern would get before the final horn sounded.

Lincoln shot 44 percent from the field in the win, while four players finished in double-figure scoring. Sai Witt finished with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Quinton Drayton scored 16 points and had six rebounds. Cameron Potts had 14 points, a team-high seven assists and five rebounds. Ni’Sean Rigmaiden added 11 points.

Southern shot 37 percent from the field and 26 percent from the perimeter. Stan Scott came off the bench and led MSSU with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting. He grabbed 11 rebounds and had four steals to finish with a double-double. Cam Martin had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Winston Dessesow had 11 points and three assists. Christian Bundy scored 11 points and rishined with seven rebounds.

Southern hosts Northeastern State on Dec. 3.

MSSU selected to host numerous cross country national championships

Posted on by Lucas Davis

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Missouri Southern State University and the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course has been selected to host numerous NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regional Championships, as well as a National Championship the NCAA, according to a press release by MSSU.

Already slated to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Central Region Championships, MSSU will now be hosting the 2022-25 Central Regional Championships, as well as the 2023 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s National Championships.

“What the NCAA announced today only solidifies what we already know,” said Director of Athletics Jared Bruggeman. “The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course is a premier facility in all of Division II, as well as the country. We are excited about the opportunity to once again host NCAA competitions. This run of regionals is unprecedented in Southern history. We appreciate the faith the NCAA and our region has in knowing the community of Joplin and MSSU will host the events in a way that allows for the best student-athlete Championship experience.

“Our region spans through the states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. This is also a great opportunity to display the hospitality of Southwest Missouri and simultaneously create another economic occasion for our local communities especially with the hotels, stores, airport and restaurants to prosper. Being able to host the 2023 National Championship is icing on the cake!”

The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course is no stranger to big meets as the facility is routinely home to one of the largest cross country events in the Midwest with the Southern Stampede that sees thousands of athletes and many more spectators each year. The facility has been host to numerous MIAA Championships, as well as NCAA Regional Championships in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2019. The course has also been host to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1999, 2007, 2012 and 2015. This will be the fifth time a National Championship has been hosted by MSSU at the course.

The Joplin Sports Authority will once again support the University in this endeavor in showcasing Joplin as a Championship City.

“The Joplin Sports Authority is proud to support Missouri Southern Athletics on this successful bid to bring the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships back to the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course,” said JSA Director Craig Hull in the release. “Earning the opportunity to host the NCAA Division II Regional Cross Country Championships for five straight years on top of the National Championship will allow a significant impact on the local economy generating visitor spending for our hotel, restaurant and retail partners.”

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