Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Classic Hosted by Lynn University Missouri Western (4-4, 0-2 MIAA) vs. Barry University (3-2, 0-0 SSC) Tuesday, December 18, 2012 Boca Raton, Fla. - de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center - 4:30 pm Missouri Western (4-4, 0-2 MIAA) @ Lynn University (4-3, 0-1SSC) Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Boca Raton, Fla. - de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center - 6:30 pm Game Notes I Listen Live I Live Stats

The Missouri Western men's basketball team, will step out of MIAA play next week when they travel to Boca Raton, Fla. to participate in the Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Classic hosted by Lynn University. The Griffons will open up on Tuesday, December 18 against Barry University at 4:30 pm and will wrap up the classic with a contest against host school Lynn University on Wednesday, December 19 at 6:30 pm. Both games will be played in the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center on the campus of Lynn University. The Griffons are 4-4 overall while Barry is 3-2 and Lynn is 4-3. 

Griffon Notes
• This marks the 43rd season of Griffons men's basketball
• Head Coach Tom Smith is in his 25th season overall at Missouri Western and 38th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level...Smith has won 612 career games with 442 coming at Missouri Western. He announced on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 that he will be retiring at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
• The Griffons at 3-1 overall against Lynn and Barry under Head Coach Tom Smith. Coach Smith is 2-0 against Barry and 1-1 against Lynn.
• Griffon junior center Cedric Clinkscales has been outstanding this season recording three double-doubles in the Griffons eight games. He has recorded back-to-back double-doubles scoring 14 points against Truman State and Fort Hays State. He snared 10 rebounds against Truman and 12 against Fort Hays State.
• For the third time since the 2003-2004 season the Griffons have started MIAA play with an 0-2 record. This also marks the second staright season that the Griffons have opened up MIAA play with two losses.
• Dating back to last season the Griffons have lost 13 MIAA games by 10 points or less which includes both of its losses this season. The Griffons fell to Truman State 71-69 and Fort Hays State 84-74 in overtime.
• The Griffons have lost three of its four games by 10 points or less and two of them by two points or less.
• The Griffons were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA coaches preseason poll and 12th in the MIAA media preseason poll.

Coaches vs. Each Program - BU:
This marks the 3rd meeting for coach Smith and the Buccaneers. Coach Smith is 2-0 all-time against Barry. Acting Head Coach Orlando Gonzalez has never faced the Griffons. Head Coach Cesar Odio is 0-2 against Missouri Western.

Series vs. the Buccaneers:
The Griffons have defeated the Buccaneers both times they have met. The first time the two teams met was in 2000-2001. The Griffons defeated Barry 84-83 on December 16, 2000 in Coconut Creek, Fla. The Griffons then defeated Barry 82-72 on December 15, 2001 in Lake Worth, Fla. Both games were played on a neutral floor.

Coaches vs. Each Program - LU:
This marks the third meeting between coach Smith and the Fighting Knights. Smith is 1-1 all-time against Lynn. Head Coach Scott McMillin has never faced the Griffons.

The Series vs. the Fighting Knights:
This marks the third meeting between the two schools. The Griffons defeated the Fighting Knights in the first meeting on December 17, 2000 by a score of 75-73 in Coconut Creek, Fla. The Griffons then fell on December 16, 2001 by a score of 65-59 in Lake Worth, Fla. Both games were on a neutral floor.

Griffon Wins Against Top Ranked Teams:
Since 2001-2002 the Griffons have defeated 13 teams that were ranked in the top-25 which includes their biggest upset yet on Dec. 7 in the fieldhouse when they defeated No. 1 Missouri Southern 75-67.
12/7/10 vs. #1 Missouri Southern - W, 75-67
12/11/10 vs. #6 Fort Hays State - W, 78-77
02/01/10 vs. #3 Fort Hays State - W, 75-69
02/24/09 vs. #2 Central Missouri - W, 55-49
12/18/09 vs. #12 Drury - W, 91-84 in High Desert Classic in Las Vegas
11/21/09 vs. #17 Central Oklahoma - W, 83-79 in Hillyard Tipoff Classic
2/19/05 @ #6 Central Missouri - W, 70-68
12/29/04 vs. #6 Washburn - W, 73-70
1/29/03 @ #18 Washburn - W, 68-67
1/23/02 vs. #13 Missouri Southern - W, 80-73
1/2/02 @ #4 Washburn - W, 95-92
1/30/02 vs. #11 Washburn - W, 73-71
2/4/02 @ #3 Northwest Missouri State - W, 64-59

Up Next
The Griffons return to MIAA play after the holidays with three straight road games. The Griffons travel to Edmond, Okla. to take on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Thursday, January 3 and then take on the Missouri Southern Lions on Saturday, January 5 in Joplin, Mo. Game times are set for 7:30 pm. The Griffons wrap-up the road swing on Wednesday, January 9th in Kearney, Neb. against the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Game time is set for 7:30 pm.