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Setting the Scene:
The Griffons will look to try and snap a three game losing streak against the number one ranked Missouri Southern Lions on Wednesday, December 7. The Griffons fell against the Lions last season at home by a score of 83-62 on February 5, 2011. Western has lost three of their last four games after starting the season 4-0. The Griffons fell for the first time this season at home on Saturday in a 59-57 loss against the Emporia State Hornets. The Lions are #1 in the country and have opened the 2011-2012 season a perfect 9-0. They are 3-0 at home and 1-0 on the road. They are a perfected 5-0 on a neutral floor this season. The Lions are coming off a 87-74 victory against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Monday evening and a 72-64 victory in Warrensburg, Mo. last Saturday. This marks the highest ranked team the Griffons have played in the fieldhouse. Western defeated the 2nd Central Missouri Mules in Febraury 23, 2010 by a score of 55-49.

Scouting the Griffons:
Missouri Western has three players averaging in double figures to date: senior forward Lavonte Douglas (13.4 ppg), senior guard TJ Johnson (13.4 ppg), and junior guard James Harris (12.9 ppg). Douglas also leads the team in rebounds averaging 6.8 boards per game. He is also shooting at a 54.3 percent clip (44-of-81). Harris has connected on 14 three-pointers on the season for a 37.8 percentage (14-for-37). As a team, MWSU is averaging 67.9 points per game and shooting 43.6 percent from the field (205-for-470). The Griffons are shooting 33.9 percent from 3-point range (41-for-121).

The Series:
This will mark the 80th overall meeting between the schools with the Griffons holding a 41-38 advantage. The Lions have won four of the last five meetings but have two of the last three in St. Joseph. Both teams have a commanding lead in the series at home with the Griffons leading at home 30-10 while the Lions lead 28-11 in Joplin.

The Coaches vs. Each program:
Coach Tom Smith is 24-20 against the Lions. Smith is 16-5 at home but the Griffons are just 7-12 when traveling to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Missouri Southern head coach Robert Corn is just 19-23 overall against the Griffons since becoming the Lions head coach in the 1989 season (just one season after Smith joined the Griffons).

Losses When Holding Opposing Team to Under 60 points:
The Griffons have only lost 13 games all-time when holding an opponent to under 60 points. Under head coach Tom Smith they have only lost two games holding an opponent under 60 points. Western's first loss under Smith was against Northwest Missouri State on January 5, 2005 by a score of 58-54 in Maryville. The last loss was last Saturday when they fell 59-57 at home against Emporia. This marks just the seventh home game they have lost when giving up under 60 points. The first ever loss was in 1975-76 when tye fell 53-52 at Missouri Southern.

On the Internet:
If you can't make it to the game you can watch live stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/ mbball/xlive.htm. You can listen to the game at http://www.gogriffons.com/webcast.asp and you can watch the game at www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=289 for a minimal cost.