Joplin, Mo. — The Missouri Southern men’s basketball team once again ranks in the top 20 nationally in attendance as the Lions this year come in at No. 15 in all of Division II.
This is the third season in a row for Southern to rank in the top 20 nationally as the Lions were ranked 17th a season ago, averaging 1,923 fans per game. The Lions were ranked 18th nationally two seasons ago, averaging 1,801 fans per game.
This year, 22,680 fans came through the doors at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center for an average of 1,745 per game. That total ranks fourth in the MIAA overall as Central Missouri was fourth, while Washburn ranked seventh, and Fort Hays was tenth.
Overall, the MIAA again led all of Division II conferences, with an average of 1,369 fans per game in the conference. It is the fourth-straight year for the league to take the Division II attendance title as 254,543 fans watched MIAA basketball this season.
Emporia State (19th) and Missouri Western (21st) were the only other teams from the MIAA to rank in the top 30 nationally.