For Missouri Southern’s basketball teams, the away game on Feb. 16 felt like a home game.

A spirit bus drove Southern fans to the game at Southwest Baptist University in an attempt to bring support to the teams. Harold and Lena Mitts, the parents of women’s Head Basketball Coach Maryann Mitts, paid for the $750 rental bus.

“My parents said, ‘Well, what can we do to help the teams when they go on the road to SBU?'” Mitts said. “They’re always looking to help others.”

Passengers participated in raffles during the ride, and car flags were given as prizes. Harold and Lena Mitts were among the 54 who rode the bus.

“My wife and I drove down from Kansas City to catch the bus to Bolivar and we will be staying the night in Joplin at a hotel,” Harold Mitts said.

Mitts said many other people drove on their own because the bus was full.

“At the start of the game, when we looked up at the stands and we had more fans than Southwest Baptist did,” she said.

The support of fans succeeded in uplifting players, Mitts said.

“When they [the players] looked up at the stands and saw our fans standing at introductions, I just saw in their eyes how excited they were, how thankful they were,” she said. “They really appreciated the support.”

Mitts said the presence of so many fans created a “great basketball atmosphere.”

“At the five minute mark left in the game, to hear our fans on someone else’s court yelling ‘defense,’ chanting ‘defense,’ it was so great to have that group silence the SBU home crowd,” she said. “It was a great experience.”

Mitts hopes the pep bus will be the start of a tradition and that it will help the campus community to feel more involved in athletics. One passenger, Lionbacker Bob Oldt, said he’d “pitch in” if a bus was offered to every away game.

“I think it was a very kind gesture,” said Sallie Beard, director of athletics. “It made it possible for a lot of people to go that otherwise wouldn’t have.”

CAB also sent a spirit bus to the game at Pittsburg State University Wednesday. Those who ride will be given free tickets to the game. According to Melanie Epperson, secretary of student activities, 39 signed up.

“I think it’ll be a great time and if it goes well, hopefully we’ll do it again in the future,” she said.