As the Missouri Southern men’s basketball team takes the court this season, fans may notice something different.

Actually, they might notice about 10 things that are different. That is how many newcomers there are on this squad. The Lions, who are off to a 6-2 start, had to go out and find a wealth of new talent after only five players remained from last year’s postseason team.

The new faces are freshmen Skyler Bowlin, TJ Williams, Chris Scruggs, and Adam Heger who will be taking a red shirt this season. Also joining the team are transfers Matt Monroe, a junior from Northern Oklahoma College, Octavious Hawkins, a senior from Missouri-St. Louis, Tony Webb, a junior from Mineral Area College, Brandon Smith, a sophomore from North Central College, Vincent Ateba, a junior from John A. Logan College, and Justin Lawlor, a junior from North Arkansas Community College.

The new names bring in a number of accolades with them. Bowlin, for example, was named the Arkansas 5A state tournament MVP and led his team to a state championship as a senior.

“Skyler brings a lot of versatility and that is something that we’re constantly looking for in a player,” said Robert Corn, head men’s basketball coach.

“He can play either guard position for us,” said Corn.

Hawkins comes to Southern after playing against the Lions last year at UMSL.

“He is an excellent athlete and that was very evident with the 17 rebounds he had against us last year, said Corn.

“He will give us someone that is a valuable asset with his ability to both pass and rebound at a high level.”

Newcomers Webb, Ateba, and Hawkins currently lead the team in scoring.

Hawkins is also the teams’ leading rebounder.

Webb, who is the cousin of returning Lion guard TJ Britton, is averaging just under 19 points a game and put in 26 on Wednesday night against Bacone.

Also, for good measure, it should probably be noted that the Lions also welcomed a new coach to the staff this year in Matt Laur. Laur is a graduate of McKendree College and spent the last three years as the head boy’s basketball coach at Steeleville High School in Steeleville, Ill.

While fans will probably need to bring their program to the first few games, they should also make it a point to bring their popcorn. This is a Southern squad that loves to create turnovers and turn them into quick, highlight reel, points on the other end.

MSSU averages 88 points and 16.5 steals per game so far. Their biggest weakness is a relative lack of size in the post. Ateba, who is the team’s starting power forward, stands at 6-4 and despite giving up nearly four inches to most of his opponents, is averaging over five boards per contest. He also averages nearly 14 points a game.

The next chance for the Southern faithful to head out to the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center and check out the new look Lions will be Saturday Jan. 5th as MSSU hosts Missouri Western in their MIAA home opener.