One Missouri Southern player wants to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.

Tomorrow night, the Lions men’s basketball team will meet Truman State University with hopes of avenging last year’s 64-52 loss. It will be the conference opener for both teams.

“Last year, I heard that the team was just not ready to play from the start,” said junior forward Deonte Cox. “I feel it is my job to get us off on the right foot. I hope that whatever I do will help the team and make us come out with the energy and fire we need to finish the game.

“As long as we play together and play the way we know we can then it shouldn’t be a problem I know it’s going to be a tough game but I like our chances.”

Tuesday, the Lions earned a win against the Northeastern (Okla.) State Redmen at home 77-69 in overtime. Last year, the Redmen beat the Lions by three points.

Before the game, senior Myron Hodge said good, fundamental basketball would be the key.

“To guarantee a win over them this time, we need to maintain good offense and defense, and also we need to rebound a little better but we’ve got to have this win,” he said.

During the game, senior Ed Miles scored 12 points and hauled in three boards. Cox tallied 19 points with 11 rebounds. Junior Stanley Titsworth and junior T.J. Britton both netted 11 and 10, respectively. Britton grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior Tyler Ryerson had four assists, five points, and six rebounds. His assists put him in second place on Southern’s career assist list with 358 assists in his career.

On Dec. 2, the Lions traveled to Sioux Falls, S.D., to play the Augustana Vikings. The Lions fell to the Vikings 76-85.

On Nov. 27, the Lions lost to the Rockhurst University Hawks 49-64 at home. Cox finished with a game-high 23 points. Miles had nine points. Britton grabbed five rebounds and four steals.

In upcoming contests, the Lions will face a year-end road swing before returning to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern will open the trip with a non-conference game at Southwestern Oklahoma State Unversity on Dec. 16. They will follow with MIAA meetings with Missouri Western (Dec. 30) and Pittsburg State.