Setting the Scene:

The Griffons return home after salvaging the last game of a four-game road swing. Western was 1-4 on the trip, winning at Truman State on the 18th, 74-70. The Griffons need to win both games this week to have a shot at the MIAA Tournament. Should the team go undefeated this week, it will still need some help from Emporia State, Lincoln and Truman who sit above the Griffons in the conference standings. 

The win at Truman snapped a five-game losing streak for the Griffons, with the team's last win coming on Jan. 25 at Emporia State. Western will be looking to avenge earlier losses to both the Mules and Bearcats. Western fell 64-48 on Jan. 14 in Warrensburg, and dropped a close one, 65-61 on Jan. 17 in Bolivar. 

The Mules are coming off a 76-63 victory over first-place,  No. 16 Northwest Missouri in Maryville. The win came on the heels of a three-game skid for UCM that included losses at Washburn, Fort Hays and a home loss to future MIAA member Central Oklahoma. 

The Bearcats enter winning six of the team's last seven games, including a 66-61 victory over Fort Hays on Feb. 16. SBU dropped its first five MIAA contests of the season, and since have went 10-3 in conference play. 

Scouting the Griffons:

The Griffons continue to play tough defense, holding its opponents to just 67 points per game. The team's struggles have been on the offensive end, averaging 65 points a game. Western has kept it close all season, trailing opponents by just 2.5 points a game on the season. Twelve of the team's games have been decided by two posessions or less, and the Griffons have been on the losing end of eight of those tilts. 

Lavonte Douglas (12.8) takes the mantle as the team's leading scorer. TJ Johnson (12.3) and James Harris narrowly trail Douglas and have both led the team this season. 

Douglas' 7.9 rebounds per game are tops on the team and put him among the MIAA's leaders. Johnson (3.0) holds a narrow lead over Harris (2.8) for the team lead in assists per game. 

Double-Doubles:

The Missouri Western men's basketball team has three players who have recorded double-doubles this season. Lavonte Douglas had five Justin “Juice” Reid has two and TJ Johnson has recorded one. Douglas has six in his career and Johnson has three. 

Douglas just missed his sixth of the season with a 14-point, nine-rebound performance at Truman State on Feb. 18.