Missouri Southern will look to get back on track this week after a big victory Saturday against Truman State at home, 57-51.

The victory gave the Lions a 16-5 record overall and a 6-5 mark in the MIAA play.

“Saturday’s win was very big to stop the 3-game losing streak,” said Missouri Southern coach Robert Corn. “And it as big to gain a little confidence back.”

MSSU will have a big test on its hands when the team returns to Leggett & Platt Athletic Center when nationally ranked Southwest Baptist visits for a 7:30 p.m. game.

The Bearcats were ranked No. 6 in the Division II polls, but will fall a bit coming off a loss Saturday to No. 24 ranked Central Missouri. SBU, at one point ranked No. 2 in the nation, is still a very solid team.

“SBU is a very talented team that is not a one-man team, but they have several players that can hurt you,” Corn said.

The two teams collided on Dec. 29 in Bolivar in what was a giant match up at the time, as SBU was No.3 and MSSU was No. 10 at the time.

The Bearcats dominated the game, winning by 40 points, 105-65.

However, SBU like, MSSU has struggled a bit of late compared to where they were once at earlier in the year. The Bearcats will enter Saturday’s game with a 15-3 record and a 8-3 mark in the MIAA. At one point, the Bearcats were a perfect 14-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country, but lost to Washburn. Since, they have lost to Nebraska-Omaha and then to UCM.

SBU is a team that is not only full of veterans, but talented players, perhaps none more than Matt Rogers. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 18 points per game. D’Ante Harris and Nick Kovacevich are also scoring in double figures. And you can’t look past the SBU bench. In the first meeting, Johnnie Harris, a transfer from Division I New Mexico, led his team with 16 points.

Four of the SBU starting five are transfers from other college. That is perhaps one reason why the team defeated Utah, 80-79, earlier this year. And to answer the question, yes that would be a Division I team losing to a Division II team.

“When they are making 3-point shots they are a very difficult team to defend,” Corn said. “The key is to do a better job in not giving them open looks and make them take tough shots.

“Obviously Rogers is as good of a player we will see this year and he has added the 3-point shot to his offense. I would rather play them at home than anywhere else, but regardless of where we play, we will need a good effort from our team.”