With post-season seeding’s still up for grabs, last Saturday’s final regular season game against rival Pittsburg State lived up to its hype and build up. PSU were welcomed to Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center last Saturday, a place where they’d hadn’t won since the 10-11 season.

Southern (17-11, 14-8 MIAA) came into the matchup on a two game winning streak as PSU entered the game on a four game winning streak.

Before the game as the seniors were being honored, senior DJ Feitl dropped to one knee and proposed to his longtime girlfriend. 

She said yes!

“DJ’s proposal was something we as a team will always remember,” said sophomore Charlie Brown.

Taevaunn Prince, senior,  was surprised by his mother who came from Canada to walk with her son to center court and to also watch him play on senior day. 

Those were two story telling moments that had everyone in attendance on their feet. It was a great way to kick-off another historic chapter in the MSSU vs. Pitt rivalry.

Head coach Jeff Boschee started seniors Greg Renfroe and Blaine Miller, as the two made their first starts of the season.

“He [Jeff Boschee] told me that Blaine would start instead of me and myself and the guys were all cool with that,” said Brown. “They deserved it.”

After trading buckets for a large majority of the first half, Southern found a little separation and took an eight point lead into the half.

Southern held a 12 point lead, their largest lead of the game in the second half with just under 12 minutes to go. PSU battled back and cut the deficit to four several times. 

With 1:59 left in the game and Southern clinging to a four point lead, Prince lobbed up an alley-oop to Renfroe who slammed it down with the foul. The Southern bench and fans erupted as Renfroe stomped and yelled his way to the free throw line. Renfroe converted the free throw and gave Southern a seven point lead.

“That was one of the biggest moments in the game. It was a spark for us and it ended the run they were making,” said Brown.

From there, the Lions would hang on and defeat PSU, 86-82.

“By far the best atmosphere I’ve played in during this rivalry,” said Brown. “It was a lot on the line and it was fun getting that win for the seniors.” 

Prince led the Lions on senior day as the senior scored 25 points on 8-14 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and going 9-9 from the free throw line, increasing his MIAA and MSSU single-season record to 262 made free throws on the season. Brown scored 20 points, while Renfroe scored seven points, added six rebounds and five blocks.

Southern locked up the three seed with that win for the MIAA Conference Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Southern will face Missouri Western in the quarterfinals today.

In other news, Prince, Brown, and senior Austin Wright were all named All-MIAA selections earlier this week. Prince was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection.

Brown was a third-team selection as Wright was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick.