Games 19 & 20:
Newman (6-12, 2-10 MIAA) @ Missouri Southern (12-7, 8-5 MIAA)
Thursday, January 21, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. | Joplin, Mo. (Leggett & Platt Athletic Center)
Audio:  101-7 The Vault 101.7 FM (Play-by-Play:  Mike McClure) | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  MSSU Athletics
 
@ Pittsburg State (5-14, 2-11 MIAA)
Saturday, January 28, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Pittsburg, Kan. (John Lance Arena)
Audio:  Gorilla Sports Network (Play-by-Play:  Eddie Lomshek) | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  PSU Athletics
 
ROAD TRIPPING
The Jets stay on road for a trip to southeast Missouri and southwest Kansas this week.
 
LAST TIME OUT
After taking a 32-31 lead into halftime, the Jets couldn't hold back a Central Oklahoma avalanche at the free throw line as the #4 Bronchos escaped with an 88-81 victory over the Jets Saturday Jan. 21 at Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Okla.  UCO started the game strong taking early 17-7 and 23-13 leads.  Through the first 10 minutes of the game, UCO ripped the nets at better than 60% from the field while the Jets were hitting fewer than a quarter of their shots, but NU settled in and used a 12-2 run to lead by three just before halftime.  The Bronchos hit two free throws late to clip the lead to one.  In the second half, the whistles blew early and often and the Bronchos took advantage with a massive 22-point edge at the free throw line.  UCO shot 36-for-41 at the free throw line in the half on the way to shooting 42-for-48 in the game while the Jets were awarded just 25 charity shots cashing in on 17 of them.  The Jets were whistled for 33 fouls while Central Oklahoma was called for just 20.  Stevie Strong tied for the game-high score of 24 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Missouri Southern is currently fourth in the standings after being picked eighth in the preseason by MIAA coaches.  The Lions split their games last week and have dropped three of their last last four after falling to Lincoln 84-82 on Monday.  MSSU regressed in win totals for the second-straight season a year ago finishing 14-15, 11-11 in the MIAA.  2021-22 snapped a streak of eight-straight winning seasons for the Lions.  MoSo last finished under .500 in 2012-13 when the Lions struggled to a 13-15 record overall with a 7-11 mark inside 'The Association.'  Prior to a 13-10 record in 2020-21, the Lions had won at least 20 games in seven of the prior 10 campaigns with only two losing seasons in that stretch.  The Lions have made 23-straight appearances in the MIAA Tournament and haven't missed the postseason since 1998.  MoSo is seeking its ninth NCAA Tournament in 2023 and first since earning a ticket to the cancelled 2020 event.
 
Missouri Southern leads the league in scoring in MIAA contests at 73.0 ppg and ranks eighth defensively in those games allowing 67.7 ppg.  The Lions' leading scorer is Vinson Sigmon Jr. who scores 13.1 ppg.  Christian Bundy and Ndongo Ndaw each lead the Lions with 6.7 rpg which is tied for sixth in the MIAA.  Avery Taggart is tied for sixth in assists at 3.6 per night and is fourth in assist to turnover ratio at 1.9.  Ndaw is second in the league in blocked shots at 1.3 bpg.
 
Pittsburg State starts the week in 13^th place and carries the conference's longest losing streak at seven games entering this week's matchup with the Navy & Red.  The Gorillas finished 8-20 last season with a 7-15 MIAA record.  Pitt State has finished three-straight seasons with a losing record.  It's the most consecutive seasons below .500 for the program since finishing with losing records in five straight years from 1986-91.  Pitt State's last winning record was in 2018-19 in the second year of the Kim Anderson era when the Gorillas finished 17-13 for the second-consecutive season.  PSU hasn't finished with a winning conference mark in the last seven seasons.  The Gorilla's last winning MIAA mark came under head coach Kevin Muff in 2014-15.  That team finished 20-12 with a 12-7 MIAA record and won the MIAA Tournament.  Pittsburg State is seeking its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since then this spring; it would be the Gorillas' seventh NCAA bid.
 
PSU is 11^th in the league in offense scoring 63.5 ppg against conference foes and ranks 13^th surrendering 74.0 ppg in those games.  Quentin Hardrict tops the Gorillas scoring 12.9 ppg while Deshaun English II is second in 'The Association' in rebounding grabbing 10.1 boards per game.  Hardrict is second in the conference in assists at 4.4 per game while English is the No. 3 shot blocker in the league with 1.2 rejections per game.
 
THE SERIES
Missouri Southern leads 7-2 with a 5-1 advantage in NU's NCAA Division II era.  The Lions have won five in a row in the series.  NU's last win came in overtime December 17, 2007.  MSSU has won five straight over the Jets including all four meetings as MIAA foes.
 
The Gorillas lead the 20-14 with a 10-6 edge in NU's NCAA Division II era.  The teams have split the last four games of the series.  PSU leads 4-2 in MIAA action and 6-2 in games at John Lance Arena in the DII era of the series.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Missouri Southern had its best offensive day of the season by far and shot 62% from the field on the way to a 100-66 win over the Jets December 10, 2022, at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Lions shot well over their season averages hitting 51.9% of their threes (14-for-27) and 75% of their free throws (24-for-32).  The Jets won several categories, including forcing 20 turnovers while giving the ball away just 13 times.  NU outscored MoSo 19-8 off turnovers but shot just 35.8% from the field and hit just 4 of 20 shots from outside.  Stevie Smith led the Navy & Red with a career-high 18 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets offense limped to the finish line and allowed the Gorillas to steal a 69-64 victory over the Jets December 7, 2022, at Fugate Gymnasium.  NU started strong with an 8-4 lead and controlling the majority of the first half, but Pitt State closed strong and took a three-point lead into the intermission.  The Jet defense kept NU in the game, but the Jets were unable to overcome 29% shooting in the second half including missing 9 of 11 three balls in the period.  The Jets cut a close game down to one point twice in the final two minutes but could never tie or take the lead.  Stevie Strong paced NU with 16 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
STEVIE POWER
The Jets' two players named Stevie have been carrying the load for NU.  Stevie Strong has led the Jets in scoring in three-straight games and the week before, it was Smith's turn to pace the Jets averaging nearly 22 ppg in NU's games three weeks ago.  Strong was second in scoring behind Smith in both of those games averaging nearly 15 ppg in the contests.  In NU's first game of the second semester against ESU, Strong led NU in scoring with 23 points while Smith tied for the second most points for Newman with 11.
 
A DEFINITE STEP UP
To get a sense of the strength of the MIAA, Newman's new league, all one has to do is check the number of games Newman is playing against ranked teams.  The Jets played the team ranked #4 in both the Coaches' Poll and Media Poll in back-to-back games when they faced Northwest and Central Oklahoma in consecutive games the past two weeks.  NU's first twelve seasons as an NCAA program were spent in the Heartland Conference and during that time NU played 11 games against the Top 25:  seven against Heartland Conference foes and four against MIAA competition.  NU is now in its fourth season of membership in the MIAA and just played its 11^th game against ranked foes in less than four complete seasons in 'The Association.'  The Jets are likely to play at least one more game against the Top 25 this season as they'll host Central Oklahoma for Senior Day on the last day of the regular season in February.
 
COMING ON 'STRONG'
Stevie Strong is starting to work his way up the Newman men's basketball record books.  This month, Strong jumped into the top ten in career 3-point field goals passing Kyle Smith and Allen Wilson on the list.  Currently in eighth position is Ben Ayre with 269 attempts.  With three more makes, Strong will tie for 10^th in career 3-point field goals made with Wilson who sits at 85 treys with the Navy & Red.
 
NO SIR, I DON'T LIKE IT
Central Oklahoma hit 42 of 46 free throws in their win over the Jets.  It was the most free throws made against the Jets in regulation and the most made and attempted since Cameron hit 37 of 51 charity shots against the Jets in the 2018-19 season.  The record for most free throws made against the Jets is currently held by former Heartland Conference foe St. Mary's.  On January 11, 2018, the Rattlers went a staggering 46-for-61 at the free throw line against the Navy & Red and prevailed in double overtime with a 99-94 victory over the Jets at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.  After shooting 19-for-26 from the charity stripe in the second half, the Rattlers were then awarded 27 free throws just in the two overtimes cashing in on 21 of them.  The Jets on the other hand attempted just 25 free throws in the entire game making 18 of them.  The 43 personal fouls by Newman against the Rattlers in the game is also a program record as five Jets fouled out of the game.
 
RSVP FOR HALL OF FAME DAY
The 2023 Class of the Newman Athletics Hall of Fame has been announced and will be inducted on February 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.  The day gets started with exciting MIAA basketball action at Fugate Gymnasium with a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader as the Jets host Nebraska-Kearney.  Fans are then invited to move to the Dugan Conference Center adjacent to Fugate Gymnasium and O'Shaughnessy Hall on campus.  Three former Newman Athletes and former Newman men's basketball coach Mark Potter headline this year's class.  Eck Agency will also be inducted as a booster.  The ceremony will begin with the presentation of the Sr. Thomasine Stoecklein Spirit Award.  RSVP your spot today HERE.  Proceeds directly support NU Athletics and table discounts are available.
 
CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET
R. J. Allen begins his sixth season as the head coach of the Jets in 2021.  It will be his 12th season with the program.  Allen has compiled a record of 53-81 over his first five years in Wichita with a 10-55 record in MIAA play.  Allen has coached a player to the All-MIAA team each of his first three years in the league.  Israel Barnes received All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition last season, Joel Boyce was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention in 2021, while Marshawn Blackmon earned Third Team recognition in 2020.  During the Jets' last year in the Heartland Conference, Allen led NU to a 20-9 overall record while finishing third in the Heartland Conference at 11-5.  The 20 wins tied the NU record for victories in their NCAA Division II era.  NU also finished the season in the Top 10 of the South Central Regional Rankings.  Allen was named the 2018 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm at Newman after guiding the Jets on a dramatic turnaround in the second half of the season that saw NU finish 14-14 overall and third in the conference with a 10-6 record.
 
Allen arrived in Wichita in 2011 and spent six seasons as an assistant and eventually associate head coach under Mark Potter, NU's all-time winningest coach.  The Jets won 88 games over those 6 years and made four trips to the Heartland Conference Tournament and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after going 20-8 in 2012-13.  He was also on the bench when the Jets knocked off No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian in the first round of the 2016 Heartland Conference Tournament to earn its first ever postseason victory as an NCAA program.
 
Allen is no stranger to the Air Capital after growing up in Wichita and playing his prep years for his dad, Ron, at Wichita East High School.  Allen was a two time All-City and All-State selection and helped lead the Blue Aces to the 2002 6A state championship.  Following high school, Allen stayed local playing two years at Hutchinson Community College.  The Blue Dragons dominated during Allen's career going 57-9 over the two-year span with a 41-1 record in Jayhawk Conference play and winning the conference title in 2004.
 
Allen is 0-4 against the Lions and 2-5 versus Pitt State.
 
PREPARING THE PRIDE AND LEADING THE TROOP
Sam McMahon became the seventh head coach in Missouri Southern history when he replaced Jeff Boschee in April of 2022.  McMahon rejoined the Lions after spending the two previous years at NCAA Division I program Southeast Missouri.  McMahon previously coached at Southern for six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach to Boschee.  The Lions entered the year with a 124-60 record with McMahon on the bench.  The run was highlighted by three trips to the NCAA Tournament and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2019.  Prior to joining the MoSo program in Joplin, McMahon coached four years at Missouri State.  His first coaching stop was at Central Methodist.  There, he aided CMU to a Heart of America Conference regular season title and two trips to the NAIA Tournament.  A Missouri native, McMahon prepped at Jefferson City High School before playing one year at Bridgton Academy (Maine).  He was a four-year letterman at Delaware from 2004-08 and was among the Colonial Athletic Association leaders in free throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.  This is McMahon's first head coaching job.
 
McMahon is 1-0 against the Jets
 
After eight seasons in Joplin, Mo. as head coach of the Lions and four years as an assistant, Jeff Boschee has moved to Pittsburg, Kan. to begin a new era at Pittsburg State.  He takes over after Kim Anderson retired from coaching following five seasons at Pitt State.  Boschee's tenure with MSSU began with the 2014-15 season and he collected a record of 151-86 with the Lions.  He was the fastest coach to reach 100 wins in Missouri Southern history.  Boschee's teams have never missed the MIAA Tournament either as an assistant or as head coach.  He is the only coach to take three consecutive Lions teams to the NCAA Tournament and was named the 2018 MIAA Coach of the Year.  Boschee came to Joplin, Mo., following 3 seasons at the Barstow School in Kansas City. 
 
As a player, Boschee enjoyed an illustrious career at the University of Kansas where he collected Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2000.  He was a Third Team All-Big 12 selection as a senior and helped the Jayhawks make a run to the Final Four in 2002.  Boschee departed as the Big 12 career leader in 3-pointers made and still holds the KU record in that category and was second all-time in games started for the Crimson & Blue.
 
Boschee is 4-0 in his career against the Jets, 1-0 with the Gorillas.
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
The Jets went 6-21 in 2021-22 with a 3-19 record inside the MIAA.  Newman returns four players from last year's squad including second-leading scorer Stevie Strong, who averaged 13.7 ppg.  Strong was also second on the team in steals with 22 and led the Jets in 3-pointers shooting 44-for-138 from outside (31.9%).  Strong also paced the Jets from the foul line with 68 free throws on the way to shooting an impressive 89.5%.  Junior Ian Lee started 23 of 27 games for the Jets last season and dazzled offensively with 83 assists against just 43 turnovers.  Lee was also Newman's third-leading scorer at 9.6 ppg.
 
The Jets will be junior and graduate led this season with no seniors on the roster.  The Jets start the season with seven freshmen on the roster.  The Navy & Red will feature eight transfers this season: five from the junior college level and four from NCAA Division I.  Newman's roster features two graduate students, six juniors, and four sophomores.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Entering the weekend, former Campus Colt Stevie Strong is fourth in the MIAA in scoring at 17.2 ppg.
• Strong is tied for 10^th in 3-point field goals per game averaging 2.2 per contest.
• Strong's 3.8 apg ranks him in a tie for third in the league in assists.
• Strong's 1.5 assist to turnover ratio is tied for ninth in the MIAA.
• Strong ranks tied for fifth in steals with 1.6 pilfers per game.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• Stevie Strong has scored in double figures in 19-consecutive games dating back to last season. 
• Stevie Smith has tallied at least 10 points in his last six contests.
• Freshman Sam Somerhalder grabbed 10 rebounds against Central Oklahoma to set a new career high.
• In conference games, the Navy & Red rank ninth offensively scoring 65.2 ppg.
• The Jets are ranked 14^th defensively allowing 75.4 ppg against league foes.
• The Jets are looking for their first winning season since 2018-19 when Newman finished 20-9 while tying for third in the Heartland Conference.  NU also seeks its first 10-win season since that same campaign.  2018-19 was also the last season NU participated in the postseason, losing in the first round of the final Heartland Conference Tournament to Rogers State.
• Newman has lost 12 straight against the Top 25.  The Newman men picked up their last win over a ranked foe when they beat #24 Dallas Baptist 74-62 February 24, 2018, to earn the program's first back-to-back wins against ranked foes.
• Luke Haasl scored 12 points and plucked 11 rebounds for the Bronchos last week, the first player to earn a double-double against the Jets since Gabe Pieschl scored 11 points with 10 rebounds when the Jets visited Fort Hays State in December earlier this season.

 
AND THEN…
The Jet men wrap up a short three-game road trip with Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next week.
 
2022-23 MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri
Week 2:  Alijah Comithier – Emporia State
Week 3:  Will Eames – Missouri Western
Week 4:  Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State
Week 5:  Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri (2)
Week 6:  Owen Long – Emporia State (2)
Week 7:  Jaden Wells – Central Oklahoma
Week 8:  Jaden Wells (2) – Central Oklahoma (2)
Week 9:  Owen Long (2) – Emporia State (3)
Week 10:  Diego Bernard (2) – Northwest Missouri (3)
 
2022 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLLS
Coaches
1.  Northwest Missouri (11) – 167 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (3) – 158 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 137 Points
4.  Washburn – 131 Points
5.  Emporia State – 125 Points
6.  Northeastern State – 100 Points
7.  Missouri Western – 93 Points
8.  Missouri Southern – 85 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 73 Points
T-10.  Pittsburg State – 63 Points
T-10.  Rogers State – 63 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 36 Points
13.  Lincoln – 26 Points
14.  Newman – 17 Points
 
Media
1.  Northwest Missouri (14) – 261 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (4) – 243 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 216 Points
4.  Washburn – 209 Points
5.  Emporia State – 181 Points
6.  Missouri Western – 163 Points
7.  Missouri Southern – 146 Points
8.  Northeastern State – 135 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 112 Points
10.  Pittsburg State – 106 Points
11.  Rogers State – 92 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 67 Points
13.  Newman – 33 Points
14.  Lincoln – 31 Points