Setting the Scene:
The Missouri Western (6-9, 1-8 MIAA) men's basketball team will look to pick up its first victory of the 2012 calendar year on Tuesday evening when they take on the Southwest Baptist Bearcats (10-8, 3-6 MIAA) for a 7:30 pm tipoff in Bolivar. The Griffons squad has dropped six straight MIAA games dating back to December 7 when they defeated the #1 ranked Missouri Southern Lions. Western is coming off an 64-48 loss on Saturday afternoon against the Central Missouri Mules. The Bearcats are coming off a 78-55 loss over No. 24 NW Missouri State on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped a four game winning streak for the Bearcats. The Bearcats go for their four straight home win on Tuesday against the Griffons. The Bearcats are 7-3 at home this season and 2-2 at home in MIAA play. Western is 1-4 on the road this season and 0-4 on the road in MIAA play.
Scouting the Griffons:
Missouri Western enters Saturday afternoon ranked last in the MIAA at 1-8 (six games back of MIAA-leading Northwest Missouri) with an overall record of 6-9. The squad started 4-0 in non conference play before dropping nine of its next eleven. The Griffons are led by three players in double-figure scoring, including
TJ Johnson at 13.8 ppg,
James Harris at 11.9 ppg and
Lavonte Douglas at 11.6 ppg. Each of the trio excels in another area, with Johnson shooting 44% with nine blocks, Harris posting a team-high 3.27 assists/ game and Douglas ranking fifth in the MIAA in rebounding at 6.9 per contest. Missouri Western is 5-4 at home on the year, though just 1-4 in MIAA affairs. Western is 0-4 in MIAA road contests. Their signature win this season came on Dec. 7 in an eight-point win against then-No. 1 MSSU. Harris led all players with 26 points and seven assists in the game.
The Series:
This is the 74th meeting between Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist with the Griffons holding a 46-27 advantage. Southwest Baptist has won seven of the last eleven meetings but Western has won four of the last six which includes the last three of the last four. MWSU leads 25-9 in St Joseph. Western is 13-18 all-time in Bolivar but are 5-0 on a neutral floor.
The Coaches vs. Each program:
Head Coach
Tom Smith is 27-15 all-time against the Bearcats while SBU head coach Jeff Guiot is 11-5 all-time against the Griffons. Smith is 15-5 in the fieldhouse but just 8-10 in Bolivar. He is 4-0 on a neutral floor against the Bearcats.
Last victory for the Griffons over SBU in Bolivar:
The last victory for the Griffons in Bolivar was back on February 22, 2003 when the Griffons defeated SBU 83-58. Western was led by Damon Bailey with 18 points while Larry Taylor and Lynn Stevenson dumped in 12 apiece. Tyrice Mitchell scored 10 in 16 minutes of action. The Bearcats were led by Ashley McCormick with 16 points while Ryan Stock and Marcus Jackson scored 12 and 10 respectively.
Scoring 50 or less points in the Smith Era:
The Griffons have scored 50 or less points just four times in the Smith era with two of the coming this season. Before this season the last time the scored under 50 points was in the MIAA tournament when they fell 56-43 against Washburn on March 6, 2010. The only other time Smith team scored 50 or less was in the 1993-1994 season when they fell 69-50 at Northwest Missouri State.
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 they fell 53-52 at Missouri Southern.
Double-Doubles:
The Missouri Western men's basketball team has three players who have recorded double-doubles this season.
TJ Johnson has one while
Lavonte Douglas and
Justin Reid each have recorded two. Johnson has recorded three double-doubles in his career while Doublas as recorded four.
Struggles on the road for Western:
Western is just 1-4 overall on the road this seaon and 0-4 in MIAA play. The Griffons are getting outscored by 11.6 per game and out rebounded by 9.6 per game. They are averaging just 60.8 points per game and 27.6 rebounds per game. The Griffons have stuggled shooting the ball making just 43.3-percent of their field goals and 33.8-percent of their three point shots. The also struggle from the free throw line making just 58.8-percent.
Lavonte Douglas and
TJ Johnson are the only two players scoring in double digits on the road at 11.4 adn 11.0 points respectively.
Coming up Next:
Western opens up the second half of MIAA play on Saturday, January 21 when they take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Tip time is set for 3:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.
