Missouri Western (7-9, 3-5 MIAA) @ University of Central Missouri (12-3, 6-1 MIAA)
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building - 7:30 pm
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Missouri Western (7-10, 3-6 MIAA) @ Lincoln University (3-16, 2-7 MIAA)
Saturday, January 23, 2013
Jefferson City, Mo. - Jason Gym - 3:30 pm
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The Missouri Western men's basketball team, will continue their three game MIAA road swing this week. The Griffons will travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Wednesday, January 23 to take on the Mules of Central Missouri. Game time is set for 7:30 pm from the Multipurpose Building. On Saturday, January 26 the Griffons will be in Jefferson City, Mo. to take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers. Game time is set for 3:30 pm from Jason Gym.

On Wednesday evening it will be an emotinal night in the Multipurpose Building for Griffon Head Coach Tom Smith. He will coach his last regular season game at the place where his coaching career started. Smith coached at UCM from 1975-1980 compiling a 86-46 record which included a 26-2 1979-80 season.

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 collegiat level...Smith has won 615 career games with 444 coming at Missouri Western. He announced on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 that he will be retiring at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
• This will mark the last time that Head Coach Tom Smith will coach a regular season game in the Multipurpose Building...Smith started his coaching career at UCM in 1975,  
• Griffon point guard Adarius Fulton has been playing outstanding the last few games...he had a career night in the Griffons victory over Nebraska-Kearney where he scored 23 points and had seven steals...He followed that performance up with an 11 points performance in the Griffons 71-58 victory over #24 Northwest Missouri State last Saturday. He has scored in double figures in four of his last six games and five of his last eight.
• Griffon post Alfreeman Flowers has also played very well as of late colleting his first double-double lwith 12 points and 12 rebounds against UNK...Flowers has scored in double digits in four of six games which included 10 off the bench in the Griffons victory over #24 Northwest Missouri State. Kalvin Balque has been outstanding as of late as well scoring in double figures in three straight games. He scored a career high 20 points in the Griffons loss at ESU.
• Dating back to last season the Griffons have lost 14 MIAA games by 10 points or less which includes three of its four losses this season. The Griffons fell to Truman State 71-69, Fort Hays State 84-74 in overtime and Lindenwood 78-69 on Wednesday. All the games were in the fieldhouse.
• The Griffons have lost six of its nine games by 10 points or less and three of them by four points or less.
• In six of its seven victories this season the Griffons have had three or more players score in double figures. In its last victory the Griffons had five players score in double figures.
• In three of its seven victories the Griffons have had 10 or more steals. They had 12 against UNK and 10 against NWMSU in last week's victories.
• 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 - UCM:
Head Coach Tom Smith is 27-26 against UCM while Kim Anderson is 15-8 against the Griffons.

Series vs. the UCM:
The Griffons trail the all-time series with the Mules 28-27. The Griffons lead 20-8 in St. Joseph but trail 16-7 in Warrensburg, Mo. The Griffons trail 3-0 on a neutral floor.

Coaches vs. Each Program - LU:
Head Coach Tom Smith is 25-5 all-time against the Lincoln Blue Tigers but fell twice last season. John Redmond is 2-3 after defeating the Griffons twice last season.

The Series vs. the Blue Tigers:
This will mark the 31st meeting between the two schools as the Griffons hold a 25-5 advantage. The Griffons are 15-2 in St. Joseph, 9-2 in Jefferson City and 1-1 on a neutral court.

Griffon Wins Against Top-25 Ranked Teams:
Since 2001-2002 the Griffons have defeated 14 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.
01/12/13 vs. #24 Northwest Missouri State - 71-58
12/7/11 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 home on Wednesday, January  30 and Saturday, February 2 with games against Pittsburg State and Northeastern State. Game time on Wednesday is 5:30 pm and on Saturday it is 1:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.